Is It Strange for a Succubus to Wear Clothes?

Chapter 6: The Succubus Empress Pulls Out a Suit 6

—Representative Lee Hyunwoo of the OO Party was forcibly admitted to the hospital early this morning, exhibiting symptoms of mental derangement.

—Testimonies report that Representative Lee showed signs of incoherent mumbling, excessive secretion of bodily fluids, and acts of self-harm.

—Representative Lee participated in observing the Night Sea phenomenon, providing guidance to on-site Public Hunters.

—According to other lawmakers present at the scene, there were no signs of mental contamination entities, nor were there other victims….

—The mental contamination index for the Night Sea phenomenon was rated “very low,” and mental measurement indices for other non-Awakened participants at the site were confirmed to be perfectly normal.

—The OO Party expressed regret and wished Representative Lee a swift recovery….

—The Party previously declared an intent to investigate whether there were sudden mental contaminations at the Night Sea during on-site inspections….

“What in the world is going on?”

Driving her car on the highway to take Ms. Jaehee home, Senior Officer Dan Ahyeon couldn’t hide her shock at the sudden news.

Representative Lee Hyunwoo.

Wasn’t he one of those so-called “distinguished guests” seated in the VIP room at the Night Sea event?

He should’ve been sipping beer in comfort without any danger. How could he have shown signs of mental derangement?

“Pardon? What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing. It’s just that this person they’re talking about on the radio, Representative Lee Hyunwoo, was present at the Night Sea observation event earlier.”

At those words, Ms. Jaehee, who had been silently gazing out the window, turned to look at Dan Ahyeon.

“…Could this incident cause any trouble for Senior Officer Dan’s career or result in someone reprimanding you?”

“Hahaha….”

Reprimands.

Reprimands, huh….

If anything, thanks to Ms. Jaehee showing up quickly, there were almost no casualties at the site.

The only significant issue was a few lower-ranked Public Hunters experiencing exhaustion.

The fact that a lawmaker suddenly started exhibiting mental derangement seemed less connected to the Night Sea phenomenon and more like a personal underlying condition flaring up.

Moreover, as a high-ranking Public Hunter, Dan Ahyeon’s career was essentially poised for continuous promotions, leaving little room for concern.

If someone were to be reprimanded, it would be someone higher up than her, like her direct supervisor.

However, the chatterbox, non-Awakened Supervisor had fled the moment the Old Lamb appeared, abandoning his post.

By now, he was likely sneaking back in to write a report of the incident.

Given the circumstances, there was no one higher up in the Special Public Hunters’ department who could criticize her.

Despite the Old Lamb’s descent, there were no casualties at the site, and the retreat had been handled successfully.

The recorded logs would make it easier to predict future dungeons or gate-related incidents using the Night Sea phenomenon.

In short, the observation event itself had ended successfully and neatly.

Even if the [Managing Special Returnees] program had to be urgently invoked, what could anyone say at the Presidential Secretariat to express dissatisfaction?

In the end, they would be the ones in a more vulnerable position.

Even if a reprimand or warning came down, all she had to do was feign compliance on the surface and maintain a nonchalant attitude.

“If anyone troubles Senior Officer Dan, please let me know.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll scold them for you.”

“Hahaha….”

What a joke.

“Really. I’ll make sure to punish them. I mean it.”

“Oh, no. Please don’t. I’m fine….”

The punishment Ms. Jaehee mentioned sounded… rather terrifying.

“It’s okay. Nothing has happened to me. So, there’s nothing for you to worry about, Ms. Jaehee.”

“I see. Then, Senior Officer Dan.”

“Yes?”

“If it’s nothing serious, please focus only on me for now.”

The moment she heard those words, a chill ran down Dan Ahyeon’s spine.

Wha-what was that?

Th-that wasn’t an attempt at seduction, was it?

“…”

“…”

“I-I need to focus on driving….”

“It was just a joke.”

“…”

“…”

An uncomfortable silence followed.

Dan Ahyeon, however, desperately tried not to look at Ms. Jaehee.

She could feel her gaze but refused to meet it.

If she looked at her now, it might be dangerous.

Especially for her sanity.

Was this what people commonly referred to as flirting?

‘Ms. Jaehee has an oddly normal mindset for a human being yet retains the peculiar aura of a Succubus Empress. I hope she wasn’t offended by my earlier response of “I need to drive….”’

Anyone else would have dismissed the playful tone of her words as a simple joke, but the person speaking was a Special Returnee and a Succubus Empress.

Dan Ahyeon considered herself to have normal sexual preferences for an average person, but she was well aware that the allure of a succubus wasn’t a mere request to share intimacy.

Instead, it was a demonic force that sought to seize a target’s body, mind, and soul completely.

In fact, some Awakened beings or Returnees had turned into demons, including succubi and incubi.

Those ensnared by their allure didn’t just end up in relationships; they became slaves in absolute submission.

Thus, a succubus’s seduction could mean losing not only one’s life but also one’s body and soul, leading to a fate worse than death.

And here was Ms. Jaehee—not just any succubus, but an Empress—uttering such words.

Dan Ahyeon couldn’t help but feel an immediate threat to her life.

“S-so, um… uh….”

“Senior Officer Dan.”

“It’s okay. I told you—it was a joke.”

“….”

It was, right? Just a joke?

The moment Dan Ahyeon let her guard down, an intoxicating scent wafted over.

What was this smell?

As the realization hit her, she froze.

This was the scent of allure.

A very intense one at that!

Dan Ahyeon instantly understood.

The empress sitting beside her had decided to unleash her seductive gaze in earnest.

“So, look at me.”

Wait, no! She was angry, wasn’t she?!

‘How petty can you be?!’

‘You’re usually so magnanimous and generous, but now you’re being this childish and petty!’

In truth, Ms. Jaehee was indeed a bit upset.

When she playfully said, “Please focus only on me,” if Dan Ahyeon had merely mumbled an awkward “Y-yes…” she would have been satisfied and continued admiring the scenery outside until they arrived home.

But when I answered, “I-I have to drive, so I can’t focus on you…,” Ms. Jaehee, for a fleeting moment, thought, “So my beauty ranks below mere driving?”

It was a petty, childish, almost kindergarten-level tantrum.

“Here. Aren’t you going to look?”

Even if Ms. Jaehee wasn’t genuinely upset, the allure she was emitting was overpowering.

Could my sanity survive this?

This wasn’t just any succubus or incubus—this was the Succubus Empress deliberately unleashing her allure.

“Senior Officer.”

‘If I look now, I’ll lose it…!’

If I look now.

If I look now, it’ll truly be dangerous.

The Succubus Empress, Ms. Jaehee, usually wore a veil, but that was only out of consideration for civilians.

If she truly set her mind on seduction, would the veil even matter?

“Senior Officer.”

“…”

“Here. Look.”

Her voice was closer now.

A moment ago, she seemed to be lying quietly in the passenger seat, but now her voice slithered into my ear like a serpent.

“W-why are you doing this…?”

“I told you, didn’t I? I want your attention, so is driving that important?”

“Well, driving is important… what if we get into an accident…!”

“Wouldn’t you say I’m more important than that?”

“Eek….”

She wasn’t wrong.

The car did have an automatic driving function.

And even in the event of an accident, the Empress would indeed be more significant.

‘This is bad. Even her voice now carries allure….’

I mustn’t look.

I absolutely must not look.

If I look now, I’ll become a slave.

My mind and soul will dissolve, and I’ll become an eternal slave to the succubus.

But as her sweet, honeyed voice struck my eardrums, I found myself trembling unconsciously….

Wait, but what’s so bad about that?

That thought flickered through my mind, and before I knew it, I turned my head.

“Ah.”

The moment my eyes met hers, the overwhelming allure vanished completely.

Ms. Jaehee’s eyes, meeting mine, curved into a crescent-moon shape.

She looked slightly playful.

Her stunning face was still hidden by her veil.

Her slightly moist eyes gazed directly at me.

“Fufu, I was just joking. I was a little bored.”

“…”

Phew, thank goodness.

She hadn’t removed her veil.

If she had, I really might have succumbed to her allure.

She must’ve just been very bored.

“P-please don’t do that again. It’s not good for my heart….”

“But you like it, don’t you?”

“W-what?”

“I’m pretty, aren’t I? The traffic is bad, and you’re bored, but seeing something pretty lifts your mood, doesn’t it?”

“…Ms. Jaehee, do you know how annoying you can be sometimes?”

“I’m allowed to be.”

Her added remark, “I know very well how beautiful I am~,” was followed by a playful giggle as she turned to gaze at the rising sunlight.

The morning sunlight shone brilliantly in the Empress’s violet eyes.

It might be an everyday sight, but the Succubus Empress, who was sensitive to even the smallest beauty, admired the sunrise as if it were her first time seeing it.

And I quietly watched Ms. Jaehee, glowing brighter than usual in the sunlight.

Despite being a demon, she suited such brilliance so well.

Her figure, half-sunken into the passenger seat, savoring the scenery outside, was an image that could easily outshine any celebrity photoshoot.

“Senior Officer.”

“Y-yes….”

“Look ahead.”

“Hah!”

“You said driving was more important than me.”

“That’s not what I meant….”

Ugh.

I mentally fortified my mind with double and triple barriers, thinking about how dangerously close I had just been.

The car was still stuck in traffic.

Even though I was a high-ranked Awakened being, capable of withstanding the Succubus Empress’s unveiled face, the way my heart pounded against my will was almost frightening.

Of course, I didn’t dislike Ms. Jaehee.

Although she had a playful streak, she was fundamentally kind and treated me well.

She could be challenging due to her title as a Special Returnee, but when treated like a close friend, she reciprocated warmly.

‘Honestly, when I was first assigned to Ms. Jaehee, it felt like I was heading to my death….’

That was only natural because Ms. Jaehee….

To put it bluntly, her calm and quiet lifestyle was almost unbelievable.

Was it because of her immense power?

Because she was the Succubus Empress?

No.

It was because this country had done something unforgivable to her.

I had imagined that if I were in her position, I would’ve brought destruction to South Korea and its government.

“Senior Officer.”

“…”

“Senior Officer?”

“P-please don’t tease me….”

Seeing her pout like a child was somewhat endearing….

And then, as I turned my gaze to her again,

—she had removed her veil.

“Ah….”

So beautiful.

Too beautiful.

No other words came to mind.

For a moment, my mind blanked, and all I could see was her face, bathed in sunlight.

There was no allure.

No mental contamination.

She was simply beautiful.

“Even if you see my bare face, Senior Officer, you’ll be fine.”

“…”

“Sigh, the veil is nice, but it can feel stifling sometimes. I can’t take it off comfortably anywhere else.”

Yet, perhaps because there was no allure, I couldn’t take my eyes off Ms. Jaehee’s sunlit face.

“I’ll only do this in front of you, so please bear with it.”

“…Never take your veil off elsewhere.”

“Okay~”

I turned my gaze back to the road.

My heart was still pounding, but I felt much more at ease than before.