Is It Strange For A Succubus To Be Wearing Clothes?

Chapter 18

—–CROW—– 

I’d always thought the house was a bit too big for one person, but today, the empty spaces felt even larger. In the middle of the living room, bathed in the faint moonlight, sat the grotesque violin made from the bones of young boys and girls.

A work of art from afar.

A cursed tool up close.

It wasn’t just a musical instrument; it looked like the embodiment of pain and unease.

The violin’s body was crafted from a boy’s ribs, reflecting the light with a chilling sheen.  The spaces between the ribs, cruelly shaped to resemble their original form, were filled with something resembling muscle and flesh, adding a grotesque touch, as if still bearing traces of life.

The neck of the instrument was a long spine, its vertebrae connected in a twisted, distorted manner.

The strings, made from the muscles and tendons of young girls, were stretched taut, poised to unleash a chilling sound.

With the cursed tool, David’s Violin, exuding its eerie and sinister aura like radiation, it was no wonder the house felt strangely ominous.

“What troubles you all so?”

-Whimper…

-Creak…

-Whine…

-Sob…

The combination of my unconsciously exuded succubus charm and the aura of the violin, made from the bodies of 187 children, transformed the ordinary house into a haunted mansion, radiating an eerie atmosphere.

The children’s souls residing within the violin were probably at peace. I, the Succubus Empress, had personally witnessed and soothed their lives and essence. I had played a requiem, declaring that I would remember them, the forgotten ones, and through the melody, I had resolved their curses and hatred, preventing them from spreading and harming innocent souls.

Even its appearance had changed. At first, it had been a grotesque sight, with the bones clearly visible. Now, it looked more like an imitation of human bones and body parts, its gruesome nature toned down.

But regardless of its appearance, the materials used for the violin were 187 “children.” They weren’t mature adults who could simply say, “Ah, I’m satisfied. Time to move on.”

That’s why, even when still, the violin exuded the restless, irritated energy of bored children.

Unable to bear it any longer, I crept closer to the violin and whispered,

“Are you bored?”

ㅡMe!

ㅡI’m bored!

ㅡI want to see the world!

ㅡI want to drink alcohol!

ㅡSex!

ㅡI want to eat!

ㅡI want to see the streets!

ㅡI want to climb the Himalayas!

ㅡI want to break an Emperor Penguin’s egg!

“….”

My head ached slightly as the various voices of the children echoed simultaneously.

S-sex, well, the sexual curiosity of growing children was natural, but what was with the penguin egg?

“I see, I see.”

Well, it couldn’t be helped.

Children were curious, and the world was full of things they found interesting and exciting. They had been sacrificed to a wicked murderer without even properly seeing the world, their consciousness clouded by hatred and curses, finally becoming clear after being touched by me.  Now, with their consciousness restored, they clamored like children their age, wanting to see the wider world, more people, and more sights.

Since it was an Ego Violin, I couldn’t separate it from me unless I destroyed it, and I had no intention of doing so.  I didn’t know what my impulsive and unplanned “nature” had been thinking, wanting to gift me a violin, but I had it now.

‘Honestly, I think I look incredibly beautiful playing the violin.’

I had no musical background or knowledge, but as the Succubus Empress, I received a certain bonus for looking beautiful, so I naturally played well.  Me, the beautiful me, playing the violin so gracefully, how could it not be a moving and beautiful sight?

Me, playing the violin.

Perfect.

Perfectly beautiful.

For the record, I wasn’t a narcissist.  It was an objective and undeniable fact, and as a Succubus Empress who loved beauty, I simply loved the “beautiful me.”

‘I don’t know what my inner succubus nature was thinking, but it is beautiful.’

David’s Violin.

No, it was my violin now, right?

Then should I give it a different name?

Jae-hee’s Violet… somehow, perhaps because I was used to Korean, it didn’t sound right.

Then how about Agnes’s Violin?

It sounded impressive, but no one knew the name Agnes.

Was there any meaning to it?

“I’ll name you all later. But for today… shall we go out for some fresh air?”

As I gestured to the violin, as if waiting for my command, it immediately floated into the air and started following me.

This was the characteristic of an Ego Weapon, or rather, an Ego Violin.  It would follow its owner’s command, could be recalled, and possessed a certain will, becoming one with its owner.

Though having too much will or ego could be problematic, I thought it would be alright since I was the owner.

I put on the veil from the dressing table.

No need for makeup.

No need for lotion or skin toner.

The Succubus Empress’s appearance was more beautiful and radiant than any makeup could achieve.

I covered my face with the veil and checked if any buttons were undone.

Good.

Perfect.

As I opened the front door, the violin started trailing behind me.

The streets were empty as usual.

But I might run into people… so, should I go to the rooftop?

“The air is cool.”

I spread my wings and leaned slightly against the railing.  Then, I tilted my body backward, and it felt as if the empty air was holding me up.

I was flying without even flapping my wings.

I always found it fascinating that I could float in the air just by spreading my wings, without any flapping or effort.

As I floated above the railing, the violin followed me closely.

“It’s the same familiar, ugly city.”

The air wasn’t pleasant.  The entire city was constantly burning mana to power the barrier sensors around buildings and safe zones, giving the air a faint burnt smell.

Was it because it was 1 AM?

I intentionally chose a time when there were no people around, but it was more likely due to people avoiding going out because of the recent “Night Sea” phenomenon.

The Night Sea activated all the dungeons and Gates in the affected area, and the level of activation was so intense that the word “flood” was an apt description.  Dungeons that once housed small goblin tribes swelled in numbers, becoming worthy of the term “empire,” and monsters that were originally infertile began mating and multiplying.  Dungeons that were once plains transformed into lush green hells, like jungles, and some monsters not only increased in rank but also gained cunning intelligence, like humans.

However, the biggest problem was…

-Cackle, cackle, cackle!

“Oh my.  Is it that time already?”

I looked up at the sound of laughter coming from somewhere.

Naturally, it wasn’t human laughter.

It was something more chilling, filled with malice.

It was a terrifying sound, but… it also sparked my curiosity and interest.

“Hmm, what will I encounter today?”

There used to be something called “Creepypasta” on the internet.  It mainly focused on the horror of physically harmful monsters and creatures, rather than spiritual ghosts, emphasizing gore over psychological horror.  For example, Slender Man, Ticci-Toby, the Expressionless, the Skin-Taker, even famous cartoon characters like Hello Kitty wielding knives and becoming murderers.

Of course, those were just fictional stories, urban legends and creepypastas, and most eyewitness accounts of monsters were just misunderstandings or fabrications.

But in this world, such things actually existed.  Things that physically existed, that killed and devoured innocent people.

-Cackle, cackle, cackle!

-Click, clack, click, clack, click, clack, click, clack, click, clack…

-Screech…!

I heard sounds.

Footsteps.

The shuffling sound of rain.

The sound of something stepping on mud and sand simultaneously.

They seeped into the depths of the city like shadows, silently, yet filled with a sinister killing intent.

The dim light of the streetlamps couldn’t fully reveal their presence.

And under the cover of darkness, at 1 AM, the boundary between night and dawn, a thick fog began to roll in across the city.

Naturally, this wasn’t natural fog.

It was mutated, dense mana.  A toxic fog, like poisonous gas, brought in by the strange creatures and monsters, the unknown entities that had seeped into the city, carrying with them the air of their habitats.

“Hee, how scary~”

Some of the entities emerging from the Night Sea were truly manifestations of creepypastas, influenced by human fears and urban legends.  The fact that monsters and grotesque beings, like those from creepypastas, could infiltrate our cities and reality, tormenting and killing humans, was the biggest problem of the Night Sea.

Monsters that escaped dungeons and Gates and hid in human cities.

If they were ordinary monsters like goblins or shark-wolves, Hunters could be hired to deal with them.  But those shrouded in urban legends and creepypastas were difficult to handle, and if they were missed, many casualties would result.

-Heeheehee

-Ehehehehee

-…….

-Ooh… oh… ah… aaah…

The sound of footsteps approaching from afar.

Like a Hyakki Yagyō, a Wild Hunt, no, something far more grotesque and chilling, was slowly creeping into the densely populated city.  These entities would hide in the back alleys, sewers, and ruins of the city, building their nests, and like figures from urban legends, they would gradually hunt their victims and expand their territory.

However, today wasn’t a large-scale march.  It was likely just a few strange entities from one or two dungeons, trying to sneak into the city at 1 AM, taking advantage of the deserted streets.

It wasn’t a particularly significant event compared to usual.  They wouldn’t immediately attack people or invade homes.

“…Hmm, I can’t just leave them alone, can I?”

If left unchecked, they could harm those working late at convenience stores, those who walked their dogs at night… or even those who were out for a late-night stroll.

I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t seen them, but since I did…

I folded my wings and descended to the ground.

The fog was rolling in.

It was a thick and toxic fog, but it didn’t affect me.  I didn’t rely on human vision; even with my eyes closed, I could sense and distinguish everything through life force and essence.

At the front walked a being with no eyes, only a perpetually grinning mouth on a grotesquely distorted face.  It walked with a twisted gait, but its smile evoked an unforgettable terror.

Following it was a being that looked human, but its head was upside down, filled with endless whispers.  The voices sounded familiar, like fragments of a self one would rather not remember.

And behind them, pale beings with elongated arms and legs crawled along the walls, encroaching upon the city.  They slowly, yet surely, faded from human sight, their presence undeniable. Their nails gleamed sharply, and their eyes were filled with despair and terror.

Accompanied by bizarre whispers, headless bodies marched in a line.  They moved silently for a long time, leaving a trail of decay and ominous energy in their wake. These beings would haunt those who saw them, becoming the masters of their nightmares.

But I was here.

The master of human dreams.

The master of wet dreams, good dreams, and sweet-scented dreams.

Come to think of it, I was annoyed.

The dreams of the people of this land and city… were decided by us, managed by us, made pleasant by us… and they were intruding?

I was annoyed.

“Nightmares aren’t my style.”

You must have been dreaming.

You must have been planning to feast on human fears, savoring their flesh and blood like dessert.  Unlike ordinary monsters or beasts, fear truly nourished you, satisfying your souls.

“But this place already has an owner.”

Peaceful and pleasant dreams for everyone instead of nightmares.

Wet dreams for some, dreams embodying their desires.

“So tonight… there are no vacant dream slots for ugly, grotesque things like you.”

If there were any remotely beautiful or cute children among you, I might have changed my mind.

But unfortunately…

You were all grotesque, ugly, and hideous.

I raised my hand.

And it gathered.

A massive life force.

Not a physical destructive force, but a force honed to slaughter and massacre, targeting only living beings and their essence.

“Eat, eat everything. Eat the blades. This is my gift to you.”

Those who would put a knife to a human’s throat…

Today is the day the knife emerges from your own mouths.

—–CROW—–