Chapter 135: Stronger Than Charm

This was a famous episode from the past.

A true story produced as a movie and published as a book by Tigrova.

One day, Succubi poured out from a Dimensional Rift.

A man, resisting the Succubus’s Charm, was awakened by a kiss from a woman whom he bickered with every day and called his nemesis.

They survived the ordeal created by the Rift, confirmed their feelings for each other, and are now married.

To forget the horrific devastation created by the Dimensional Rift, citizens endlessly recounted this anecdote filled with hope and sweetness.

The incident became quite popular among stories related to Dimensional Rifts.

As this story spread, when a Succubus appeared from a Dimensional Rift, many people tried similar acts with the charmed opposite sex, but the actual success rate is extremely low.

Only the successful anecdotes became known, so it was known as one of the countermeasures.

The intelligent girl, Ichinose Yui, was also aware of the extremely low probability of success.

Moreover, the Succubus they were facing was unusually powerful, so even attempting it was foolish.

Yet, the reason this method popped into her head first was…

Ichinose felt something akin to destiny in her relationship with Rohan.

“…I-If you don’t wake up with this, I’ll really cut you down!”

Ichinose, pulling Rohan closer, pressed her lips against his.

The girl’s first kiss wasn’t romantic, filled only with urgency and desperation, but if this act woke Rohan, it might become a new memory.

“Haha! Do you think such a childish trick will work?”

Olivia burst into laughter at the sight of Ichinose.

Her split abdomen ached terribly every time she laughed, but she couldn’t help it.

Certainly, the only thing they could do while wary of her was a childish kiss.

Still, hadn’t they read too many fairy tales?

Olivia was confident that her dense and sticky Charm wouldn’t be broken by such child’s play.

No matter what anyone said, she was the leader of the Succubus’ Nest.

“Little girl. The men who have been affected by my Charm, without exception… Huh?”

Olivia’s eyes widened.

The pink Mana that had been boiling in Rohan’s body was subsiding.

··

··

Even though Rohan regained consciousness, he was confused.

‘A dream? Or is this also the Charm…?’

The unpleasant, sticky things that had been digging into his mind and trying to consume it had disappeared.

He couldn’t tell if the reason he couldn’t feel the forcibly sweet things anymore was because he had been completely consumed, or because he had somehow overcome them.

[Heroines Who Only See Me – Achievement Unlocked]

[As an achievement Reward, Mana consumption for Unique Skills decreases when with a Heroine.]

[Heroines gain resistance to status effects when with Rohan.]

Behind the notification window that popped up…

He saw a girl tightly closing her eyes, trembling as her lips were pressed against his.

The soft sensation on his lips conveyed happiness.

‘Ah.’

Rohan understood.

Ichinose had pulled him out of the pit of Charm using a special method.

Rohan tightly wrapped his arms around Ichinose’s waist.

“…!”

Looking at the girl who opened her eyes wide, he regretfully parted his lips.

At the same time, he jumped to the side.

Kwang!

Olivia’s whip fell where they had been standing, severing the burning rope.

Seeing Olivia’s face as she attempted the surprise attack, Rohan read a variety of emotions.

The Succubus was filled with impatience and shock. Having lost the arm she mainly used, her whipping was incredibly awkward.

“Ro…han?”

As if she couldn’t believe it, Ichinose reached out and touched Rohan’s face with one hand, still in his embrace.

Rohan accepted her touch, expressing his gratitude.

“Thank you. Let’s finish this.”

Rohan released his hold on Ichinose.

He picked up Radiance lying on the floor and took out Brand from its holster.

Ichinose watched him. He hadn’t turned into a Pleasure Doll.

Rohan’s usual behavior. It felt like a dream.

“Yes…!”

At this best possible outcome, Ichinose’s lips curved into a smile.

Supporting Rohan’s movements, she rushed towards Olivia.

They both knew this was an opportunity they couldn’t miss.

Rohan gripped his weapon tightly, ignoring his wounds.

Ichinose parried the clumsily swung whip with her scabbard, clearing a path for Rohan to run.

“Damn, damn humans!”

Olivia was no longer triumphant. The situation was dire.

If she created a new Charm, her Mana would be completely depleted. Furthermore, controlling the Charm with her whip was impossible.

Moving roughly based on her strength was out of the question due to the deep wound in her abdomen.

She had no choice but to give Rohan and Ichinose distance.

Rohan, having approached close to Olivia, raised his sword as if to swing.

He aimed the Handgun at the Succubus’s thigh as she tried to block the blade with the whip handle.

Against an opponent openly showing they were on the defensive, psychological warfare worked easily.

Bang! Bang!

He cleanly fired the remaining rounds.

“Kyaaak!”

Olivia screamed as the bullets pierced her thick thighs.

He hated such loud noises.

──Crack! He hit her temple with the Handgun.

And thrust the brilliantly glowing Radiance into her heart.

“Ah, aah…?”

Was it because of the pain that Olivia couldn’t even speak? Or had she sensed her impending death?

Frozen in place, Olivia let out a final, choked gasp.

Naturally, the two had no intention of stopping.

As Rohan released the grip of his weapon and stepped back…

Ping!

As if waiting for that very moment, Ichinose dashed forward and severed Olivia’s neck.

The severed head fell to the mansion floor.

““…””

Rohan and Ichinose remained silent, their guard still up.

It felt too surreal to savor their victory just yet.

[+100P]

At the same time that the signal of Olivia’s demise reached Rohan…

Crack! The mirrors covering the mansion began to shatter and fall to the ground.

Finally, the structure of the mansion became clear to Rohan and Ichinose.

[Seduction Cutter – Achievement Unlocked]

[Reward: Random Point Pouch]

[Exemplary Iron Wall Defense – Achievement Unlocked]

[Reward: Increased Physical Durability]

‘Iron Wall… that Iron Wall?’

Rohan chuckled, dumbfounded by the unfamiliar achievement.

His body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground.

“Haa…”

He needed to find the Monolith within the mansion, but he didn’t have the strength to move.

He knew he had to hurry, considering the Monolith’s location changed every time he entered the dungeon.

But even before he could receive the Complete Recovery reward, his eyes began to close.

He felt like he would truly die if he lost consciousness, so he forced a potion into his mouth.

“Rohan! Are you alright?”

Ichinose, without a moment to relish their victory, rushed to his side, her face etched with worry.

Rohan desperately clung to consciousness and nodded.

“Monolith… need to find it.”

“I’ll find it. You rest here, Rohan.”

“No, let’s go together. The Monolith might just move on its own.”

Ichinose couldn’t argue against that possibility.

If that truly happened, Rohan would be left alone.

“I’ll help you…”

Ichinose supported Rohan as he staggered to his feet with the help of the potion.

Doors that had been hidden behind the mirrors…

The two began to search through them one by one.

··

··

“I don’t think it’s here either.”

“Then there’s only one room left.”

As they searched the rooms, neither mentioned the kiss.

They were solely focused on finding the Monolith.

Perhaps it was Rohan’s way of showing respect.

Or maybe he was simply too exhausted to bring it up.

Furthermore…

Ichinose found herself caught in a conflicting dilemma: wanting to address it, yet hoping Rohan wouldn’t.

‘I’m afraid to hear his thoughts… What am I doing now…?’

The girl named Ichinose Yui tended to overthink.

If the urgency hadn’t pushed her, she would never have acted so impulsively, so recklessly.

It was only possible because the pressing situation prevented her from fully considering the consequences of her actions.

‘What if the kiss hadn’t worked…?’

Wouldn’t that have been a devastating blow to a girl harboring unrequited feelings?

Ichinose was, after all, a timid and sensitive soul who preferred blissful ignorance.

‘Did he wake up from the literal shock? Or does Rohan also feel something for me…?’

The girl was at a loss for how to react.

She couldn’t even bring herself to meet Rohan’s gaze.

Step. Step. Step.

Supporting the stumbling Rohan, Ichinose arrived at the largest door in the mansion.

Creak! As the door opened…

The unique energy emanating from the Monolith flowed out, palpable and undeniable.

Inside, they saw the jet-black stone.

Destroying it would return them home.

“Aeng-ae Nose.”

“…Yes.”

Ichinose held Rohan tightly, afraid he might fall.

“Sorry, but I’m out of energy right now. Could you break it for me?”

“Alright. And before we go back…”

“Hm?”

“Rohan, you probably already know, but when we return, you’ll receive treatment and then be questioned for information.”

“Right. I know.”

As she finally spoke, it felt as if the sensation of his lips lingered on hers.

Blushing, she grasped the hilt of her sword.

“Wh-when you speak, o-only the n-necessary parts… You know what I mean…?”

She didn’t wait for his reply.

After her one-sided declaration, she severed the Monolith.