The Promise

He was waiting for me in the guild lobby.

“All done?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Let’s go, then. Oh, right. The reason I came to the guild today was about the Spirit World.”

“Okay.”

“I went to the Spirit World, got the list of warnings and the manual, and I mentioned you.”

“Me?”

What warnings and manual? I never got anything like that.

“Yeah. Your name came up while we were talking about contracts and marks. The person who manages the Spirit World was asking after you.”

“Asking after me? About me?”

“She asked how high your Lightning element proficiency was. Said to get in touch when you think you’ve reached a certain level.”

“Ah…”

Coincidentally, I had just raised it to level 4 on my way here.

If I added the levels from manifesting my horns, it would be around level 17…

Would that be enough?

“But she said that if you already have another elemental spirit, you’ll probably need to raise it higher. She told me to contact her only when I’m sure.”

“Ah, yes. I understand. But that person…”

“The Guild Master’s secretary. You know her, right?”

“Ah. Yes.”

“Good. Let’s go.”

*

I had decided I needed to take him down.

“Lucky bastard…”

But I never thought he’d go down this fast. It hasn’t even been two hours. And the drinks weren’t even that strong.

“Hyung. Are you okay?”

“Hey… I told you I’m fine.”

There was no point in him saying that while slumped over the table.

“…Let’s get you up. What was your address again?”

We took a taxi and arrived in front of his house.

It was the detached house I’d seen before when I came with Sung Yu-han—the one the guild provided.

The house I chose was—

“Umm…”

“Hyung. Hyung. What’s the passcode?”

“…”

“Hyung?”

Thank god. He managed to stumble his way through punching in the code.

…Using 0000 is a bit…

The gate to the house opened, and the front door opened with 0000 as well.

And so, I was in.

He was sprawled out on the living room floor. Completely defenseless.

Now… I had to pounce.

I have a blind date with the Swallow Faction’s leader tomorrow, and I don’t know what might happen during it, so I need Essense. A lot of it.

…As a succubus again?

Every time I’d done it with him, I’d pretended to be a succubus from his dreams before taking his Essense.

…

Sorry, hyung.

Transform.

*

Ah… I’m so dizzy.

Lee Han-gyeol can really hold his liquor…

As I slowly opened my eyes, I saw her.

The succubus who hadn’t appeared for a while.

“Huh?”

“Long time no see.”

“Where have you been all this time…”

“…I was busy. Sorry.”

“You just appear in dreams, how could you be busy…? I was waiting for you.”

“You were?”

“Yes… I really, truly waited for a long, long time…”

Even through my half-closed eyes, a beautiful face drew closer.

And then,

A wet tongue—

Slurp—

Nuna pulled her lips away. Ah, just a little more…

“I had no idea. Then from now on… should I visit more often?”

“I was saving it all for you, nuna. I didn’t even touch myself while I waited…”

“Is that so?”

Her large, clear eyes curved into a gentle smile.

Just looking at her made my heart pound—

“Yes… I mean, even when I do it alone, I’m always thinking of you, nuna…”

Her smile… ah, nuna…

“I really wish you were real, nuna. I even take naps every day just to see you…”

“You do? My, I didn’t know.”

“I know, right…”

“Then let me know.”

“Huh…?”

“Let me know. When you’re… full of Essense. When you’re so full of Essense you can’t take it anymore…”

“How?”

She glanced at my ear.

“Hmm… If you want to see me, wear only one earring.”

“Only one?”

“Yes. It’s a ritual… to summon me.”

“I’m going to wear just one earring every day from now on… Hehe.”

“Don’t do it all the time, though. Only when you really, really can’t hold it in anymore. Got it?”

Her hand, which had been caressing my face, slid toward my right ear, and she took off one of my earrings.

“Just… like today.”

Her lips descended again.

But their destination wasn’t my lips.

*

[Magic Power: 898+493]
[Essense: 10954/139190]

It seemed what he said was true.

To have this much Essense when he wasn’t even an A-rank.

I’m always grateful. Hyung.

His eyes were closed, but he was still twitching.

The irregular spasms, contrasting with his steady breathing…

Hmm…

You must have put in a lot of effort. Thanks again.

I put the earring back on him.

He can’t notice.

Of course, I put him under hypnosis again, but it never hurts to be thorough.

I dressed him again, too.

…

There. Back to how it was.

By the way…

—I was saving it all for you, nuna. I didn’t even touch myself while I waited…

—I really wish you were real, nuna. I even take naps every day just to see you…

…

Well, I know his passcode now.

If I happen to see him wearing only one earring, I can just sneak in at night, do my thing, and leave.

A crime? Who cares.

I licked my lips lightly.

[Essense: 10956/139190]

Hmm. Guess some was still on my lips.

*

A cafe.

As I sat in the cafe with cheerful music playing, wearing women’s clothes I’d bought for the first time, I felt…

Uncomfortable.

Give me back my Nephthra Suit and robe set.

The comfortable, skin-tight feeling of the suit…

You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone. No, I knew it was spring even before the flowers fell…

Anyway, I figured it would look strange to show up to a blind date dressed like that, so I bought an outfit (recommended by a store employee).

Simple black slacks and a white shirt.

And a black blazer draped lightly over my shoulders.

Achromatic colors that allowed for no saturation. And while the clothes were simple, they had that distinct feminine curve that was strongly emphasized.

And the curves of my body… only served to accentuate those lines.

But now that I think about it, I can’t undo my transformation in this, can I?

Ugh… I condemn my own shortsightedness.

Or maybe not? They’re pants, so it might be fine.

Of course, if I undid the transformation, the chest area would be baggy. Very baggy.

But is this blind date important enough for me to buy and wear an outfit like this? If you ask me, the answer is no…

If anything, I was more likely to cause a scene during the meeting than to put in this much effort—

No. If I came dressed carelessly, those bastards from the Swallow Faction would just harass Blue Forest.

I’m just preparing for that—

“Excuse me, but…”

I turned my head slightly to see a man.

“Could I get your number?”

Hmm. That’s the fourth one.

“I’m sorry.”

That’s the fourth time I’ve said that, too.

I glanced around. It looked like a fifth and sixth would be coming along soon…

When is this bastard going to show up?

He was the one who wanted this meeting, and now he’s going to be late—

Jingle—

Just then, the cafe door opened.

Wow. He really looks like a wolf.

Could that be him?

If Park Se-hyuk the werewolf was like a domesticated wolf or a Siberian husky, this man had the air of an alpha wolf, one that had been through countless battles and was covered in scars.

“Excuse me… Blue Forest?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

As the man sat down across from me, the men who had been staring all hastily averted their gazes.

“My name is Na Seung-hyun.”

“I’m Seo A-gyeol.”

“A pleasure to meet you.”

“…Yes. You too.”

*

The conversation continued.

He would ask a question, I would answer. He would ask another, and I would answer again…

I have very little interest in you.

The only silver lining was that he didn’t seem to be trying to hold ‘Blue Forest’ hostage.

In that case… do I really need to cause a scene?

Was meeting him really all he wanted…

Just then, my phone chimed. Diling.

What’s this? I don’t get many notifications.

“Just a moment.”

I glanced down and saw a comment notification.

A comment on my ‘Expeditionary Force’ team recruitment post.

[Title: Seeking Team Members for Gate Conquest.

Seeking team members for a gate conquest.

I haven’t decided on a gate yet. I’ll probably decide after seeing the team.

I am a magic-type, government-certified B-rank, and A-rank by my guild’s standards (Elemental certified).

Just because my rank is high doesn’t mean we’ll go somewhere difficult! Please don’t feel pressured and feel free to contact me.]

…I just copy-pasted the post I made before.

But I didn’t update my new rank.

Well, my guild rank hasn’t been updated to reflect my government-certified rank yet anyway.

Comment) I’d like to join!

Whoa, how long has it been since I got an application comment…

But…

I’m in the middle of a conversation…

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s quite all right. If you have something urgent, shall we part ways here?”

What a stroke of luck.

“Shall we?”

“Let’s. Well then…”

“Hm?”

“How about a movie next time?”

*

In the end, I accepted.

Ugh… I can’t believe I accepted.

But when someone is that polite, it’s a little hard to refuse.

If he’d been rude and arrogant, I would’ve just…

Sigh, never mind.

If I had refused, he might have started bothering Blue Forest. As the guild master… no, I’m not the guild master. As the real power behind the guild, I have to make the effort.

In that case—

Comment) I’d like to join!

I clicked ‘Send Message.’

I sent him my messenger ID.

While I was in my messenger app, I checked my other messages and replied—

Choi Shin-woo: You busy these days?
Me: I am.

Han Jin-seong: Hello
Han Jin-seong: Do you remember me?
Me: Of course I do.
Me: Is your life as an Awakener going well?

Kim Hee-an: When can we see you again? Let’s do it like last time, the three of us.
…You, I’m leaving on read.

A reply came from Choi Shin-woo immediately.

Choi Shin-woo: Hey I got a girlfriend
Me: ?
Me: Then why’d you message me
Choi Shin-woo: I didn’t have one back then lol
Me: ??
Choi Shin-woo: Sorry hahaha
Choi Shin-woo: I don’t think I can give you any Essense for a while
Me: Piss off

Should I be glad he said he can’t give me Essense because he has a girlfriend? If he offered despite having one…

Fortunately, Choi Shin-woo isn’t that much of a scumbag.

A reply came from Han Jin-seong right away, too.

Han Jin-seong: Yes!
Han Jin-seong: I’m entering gates as part of a conquest team now ㅎㅎ

If my memory served me right, Han Jin-seong was a government-certified D-rank.

Considering his growth rate and other factors… his guild rank would probably come out to around C-rank.

That should be enough to join a gate conquest, even as a low-level member.

Me: That’s good to hear. Congratulations.
Han Jin-seong: Thank you
Han Jin-seong: And thank you so much for saving me back then
Han Jin-seong: I don’t think I thanked you properly because I was so out of it

…Does he know why he was kidnapped? Probably not, right?

That he was kidnapped to be turned into a living dildo… for me, a succubus.

In any case, it’s not like I ordered them to catch and offer him to me, so there’s no reason for me to worry about it.

Han Jin-seong: Also, you told me to find out more about my abilities last time
Me: Yes
Me: Anything good?

For reference, Han Jin-seong’s traits were ‘Adaptive Evolution’ and ‘Incubus.’

Han Jin-seong: Don’t get the wrong idea when you hear this
What is it?
Han Jin-seong: It’s…
Han Jin-seong: It’s called… an Um-mun…