I stood from my seat, my gaze calm yet calculating, and activated the〚Observer's Gaze〛skill, focusing on the mada as she began to walk toward a hidden part of the tavern.
[Stats]
Na: ???
Race: Succubus
Passive Status: Blessing of Bewitchnt / Succubus' Fragrance
"…Ha."
A quiet sigh escaped my lips as I stared at the screen in front of , suppressing the surge of outrage building within.
'So this is the reason for the sudden quest?'
The faint evil aura I'd sensed earlier now made perfect sense. The passive traits listed—Blessing of Bewitchnt and Succubus' Fragrance—were unmistakable. These were traits linked to none other than Alecto, the infamous Succubus Queen of the ga's lore.
Of course, she wasn't the real Succubus Queen—. As the real one is still in Hellheim, and this woman was just a low-level succubus without even a proper na. Yet, I recognized her for who she would beco in a few years: the manipulative figure who would rise to unparalleled power, earning the dreaded title of Succubus Queen.
'So, this is how she started?'
Her rise to infamy in the ga was unprecedented, making top-tier figures into her puppets and leaving chaos in her wake. Her skills in ntal magic, particularly her signature Seduction ability, were unmatched. I still rembered how many warriors had fallen victim to her, their fates sealed by her manipulative sches.
But none of that would happen now.
'If I deal with her here, I'll be changing the ga's plot, significant enough to force the demons to change their plans.'
It clicked: the Scenario Quest wasn't about saving just the girl—it was about eliminating a future threat to the world. If I could crush this future "queen" in her cradle, countless tragedies would be averted.
"…Co on, this way."
Her sultry voice pulled back to reality. She smiled coyly as she revealed a hidden trapdoor in the floor, gesturing for to follow her into the darkness below.
"…I'm looking forward to it,"
I told her exactly how I felt and followed her down to the basent.
Your adventure continues at empire
"Now… well then, look around to your heart's content, handso Young Master."
"This is…"
The basent I arrived at was in a pitiful state. Behind iron bars, girls with lifeless eyes cowered in fear.
"Ladies… we have a guest. Shouldn't you smile?"
""....!!!""
The mada's icy voice sent a chill through the air, making the won flinch. Slowly, they forced smiles onto their faces.
"He he he… he he he…"
"W-Welco… Welco, Sir…"
"Welco…"
Their voices trembled, and their eyes betrayed their terror.
"…Was that a bit stimulating for you, Young Master?"
I stared blankly at the scene, keeping my expression neutral as the succubus glanced at , her tone sly and probing.
"…Wonderful."
"Oh… yes, you… any of them to your liking?"
"I'm kidding."
I moved away, maintaining eye contact with the mada, whose lips curled into a smile as her eyes glead with amusent.
"They all look fine… but they're too old."
"Yes? But they're all young won in their twenties?"
"…I want soone younger than ."
The mada's smile froze, her expression stiffening.
"…Young Master, I apologize, but they're not for sale."
"Does soone like that exist?"
"…Please don't do this, Young Master. If you keep insisting… I have no choice but to call soone."
Her voice carried a thinly veiled threat, laced with killing intent. I sighed and began rummaging through my pockets.
"Look, I know you have money, but… I can't sell what doesn't exist…"
"…Ten pouches of gold coins."
"....!"
The "Succubus Queen", who had been speaking with dissatisfaction, froze mid-sentence as I casually placed ten gold coin pouches on the counter, one after another.
'This will work. As the Alecto trying to expand her influence in the empire, she'll need a lot of money.'
I watched her carefully, knowing she was likely in dire financial straits.
"Ha, just one person… it should be okay, right? I can always capture her again…"
Alecto fidgeted for a mont, clearly weighing her options, before finally grabbing the gold coin pouches.
"…Wait here. I'll go get her myself."
"…I personally want to confirm with my own eyes."
"That's not possible. I'll bring you the finest. You don't have to worry, all right?"
As the mada said those words, she knocked three tis on the wall next to her.
– Goudou Goudou…..
The wall split apart, revealing a secret passage.
"…By the way, if you'll excuse , which family does the Young Master belong to? If you beco a regular custor, all the mbers of your family will get a discount…"
"…The kids are here, right?"
"Yes, but the Young Master is here so… keuk…!"
As the passage opened and the mada began her sales pitch, I interrupted her with a swift kick to the stomach. She flew back, crashing into the wall and collapsing unconscious.
"…Hold on, kids."
I gave a quick glance at the knocked-out mada, then turned and stepped into the secret passage.
.
.
.
– Inside the Secret Passage –
"S-Save !!"
"Help!!"
"Waaaaah… Mommy…"
"....."
Erging from the passage, I found myself in a large underground chamber. In the center of the room stood a massive prison cell filled with terrified children, their cries echoing off the stone walls.
In front of the cell was a crimson magic circle, its malevolent glow filling the room with an oppressive energy.
The sight ignited a burning rage within .
'That magic circle…'
I recognized it imdiately—it was used in rituals to summon high-level demons. The markings, drawn in children's blood, were still fresh. The activation of this circle required the lives of 100 healthy children as a sacrifice.
'…So that's what they ant by "feeding her well to make her premium." Disgusting.'
As I muttered bitterly to myself, I sensed movent behind .
"…Haa, did you see that?"
"..."
"By the way, our Young Master is overflowing with energy, isn't he? Even though he's just a re human, he managed to knock out for a while."
It was Alecto, her human guise now gone, replaced by her true demonic form. Her crimson eyes glead in the dim light as she stood blocking the passage, flanked by a group of masked individuals dressed in black.
"…Don't kill him. I want him captured alive. I'm going to make him my toy," Alecto commanded.
""…Yes.""
At her words, the warlocks extended their hands and began chanting in unison.
"…Heup."
Without hesitation, I unsheathed my sword, gripping it tightly. With one deep breath, I swung it with all my might.
– Kaching!!
A blinding flash of light filled the room.
When it faded, all the chanting warlocks collapsed to the floor, motionless.
"…W-What!?"
Alecto stared in shock, unable to comprehend the scene.
I leveled a cold glare at her, not bothering to respond.
"Y-You…! What's your identity!?" she stamred, panic overtaking her composure.
"...."
"W-Wait! Wait!! Don't co near !!!"
Ignoring her pleas, I advanced steadily. Seeing no escape, Alecto began to back away, only for her expression to change when I suddenly dropped to my knees. Blood gushed from my mouth as I moaned in pain.
"…Ugh!"
For a mont, she hesitated, but then a sly smile crept onto her face as she approached .
"Oh my, I thought you were just a cute toy… Who would've guessed you had such an unexpected side?"
"…Cough! Cough!"
"However… forcing such a powerful technique… you're only destroying your body."
"…Ughhh."
As I lay on the ground, clutching my chest, she knelt beside , leaning in close to whisper in my ear.
"As expected, you're my type."
"...…"
"Haa… It's been so long since I've felt such a pure aura…"
"Ugh…"
"How ecstatic it will be to taint that purity and make it my own."
She leaned in further, blowing a light breath into my ear.
"Rember this scent—it belongs to your master."
"....."
"The Succubus' fragrance… isn't sothing just anyone gets to enjoy. It's reserved only for my toys."
"....Yes."
"Good, very good. Now, why don't you take off that suffocating robe?"
Obeying her command, I slowly removed the robe, revealing the mask I wore beneath it.
"…W-What? What's with that eerie mask?"
"I just bought it," I replied nonchalantly.
"What? That doesn't—"
– Shluk!
Before she could finish, I drove my sword deep into her stomach.
".....!"
She gasped, her crimson eyes wide with shock.
"I know you're trying to report to your superiors," I muttered, twisting the blade.
She attempted to transmit my appearance to her superiors using magic, but did she really think I'd step into a demon's den with my real face? I had already equipped a high-level deception mask, one that distorted my identity entirely. It still stings when I think about how expensive that mask was.
But it was worth every coin. Thanks to it, the demons will undoubtedly be infuriated by the sight of the white mask—an artifact even the Demon King himself can't see through. Combine that with the fact that I disrupted their precious awakening ritual, and I've certainly made myself a target.
"Uh, why…"
"…Huh?"
As I was about to finish things, Alecto grabbed the sword embedded in her stomach, her voice faint but desperate.
"How co… the Succubus' Fragrance… didn't work on you…?"
"It's simple—my mind is stronger than yours."
"I-Impossible… How can a re human… resist …"
"…Are those your last words?"
"W-Wait! Please, wait a minute!"
As I began to pull the sword from her stomach, she scread frantically, panic flooding her voice.
"I'll give you information about the Demon's next move!"
"…What?"
"Y-Yes! You're aiming for the demons, aren't you? I can help you! I might look like this now, but I'm one of the Demon King's closest aides. I know all the demons hiding in the Empire's shadows!"
"...…."
Seeing a glimr of hope in my hesitation, she beca even more desperate.
"That's not all! I'll give you gold, silver, jewels—everything I own! Not just the wealth in this store, but all of my fortune!"
"...…."
"A-And… if you desire, I'll serve you personally at night! I'm a succubus, after all. I can satisfy any man—better than anyone else could!"
"…It's been almost a minute."
"…Eh?"
With that, I yanked the sword from her stomach.
– Shluk!
"Blergh!"
She fell to her knees, blood gushing from her mouth. I glanced at the imprisoned children behind her and softened my voice.
"Kids, cover your eyes."
Imdiately, the children complied, shielding their faces with their hands. It was heartening to see how obediently they listened.
"Why… Why? I gave you the best offer… above all else…"
As blood pooled around her, she looked up at , her voice growing weaker with every word.
"…Simple."
I leaned in closer, eting her fading gaze.
"Your offers hold no value to . I'm a noble—I don't lack riches. The information you're leveraging? I don't trust it. And as for you being a succubus…" I smirked coldly. "Let make one thing clear—I don't use used products."
Her crimson eyes widened in disbelief.
"…Ah."
And in the next mont, her head was severed, flying briefly through the air before hitting the ground and rolling lifelessly across the floor. I quietly turned my back to the grueso sight and looked at the children.
"".....""
Even then, the children kept their heads down, hands firmly covering their eyes. Their discipline and obedience in such dire circumstances filled with a sense of pride. Eventually, among them, I found her—the ultimate reason I had co here.
"…She's still unconscious."
I cut through the iron bars effortlessly with my sword, freeing the little girl alongside the others. Gently, I cradled her in my arms. She remained unconscious, likely from the trauma she'd endured earlier.
With the other children following behind, I began leading them out of this cursed place.
Outside the Secret Passage
"Thank you very much!!"
After erging from the hidden tunnel, I freed the imprisoned won as well. Once they were safe, I retrieved the gold coins I had given the Succubus and distributed them among the group.
At first, I planned to give each person a single coin. But as I saw their gaunt faces—the faces of people who had been stripped of everything to fund the demons' operations and the vile awakening ritual—I couldn't help myself.
I handed out the coins generously, ensuring they'd have enough to start anew.
The won and children bowed deeply, their eyes filled with gratitude. Then, forming a group, they began their journey to escape this nightmarish place and return to the world outside.
"…Ummm."
I watched them disappear into the distance with a satisfied smile. The little girl in my arms stirred, letting out a faint moan as her eyes fluttered open.
"Good morning," I said softly, my smile growing warr.
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