Succumania

The kid's rampage had finally ended. It ended with many Drifters and a nekomata traumatized on top of the erasure of a succubus. Truly a remarkable ending to his taste.

He gave everything he had. Well, almost since he was still breathing. But he still accomplished what he came here to do.

Meanwhile, standing at the edge of the rift, just within the threshold of the Dreamlands, a man adjusted the brim of his wide hat, observing the chaos with a bemused expression.

"Good grief," he muttered, tipping his hat back slightly as if to take in the full scope of the disaster. The entire scene was a mess—dreams spilling over into reality, stretching beyond their boundaries. The Dreamlands had expanded far too much, now creeping into the waking world, blanketing the neighborhood in a haze of shifting illusions.

It was about time someone stepped in.

The man exhaled sharply, raising a gloved hand. In a matter of seconds, the rift closed to a "I always end up cleaning up after these messes," he chuckled, a sly grin playing on his lips. Then, with a flourish, he turned toward the rabbit holes dotting the dreamscape and crouched beside one in particular.

"Hey there, how you holding up, girl?" he called down.

At the bottom of the burrow, the White Rabbit sat curled in on herself, trembling, hands clutched tightly around her head.

"Damn… niño really did a number on you, huh?" He sighed before reaching down and hoisting her up by the arms with little effort.

As he pulled her free, his eyes flicked to the oversized hat sitting atop her head. With a smirk, he gave the brim a light tap.

"Nice witch hat, by the way. I like it."

The White Rabbit flinched at his touch, her ears twitching as she looked up at him, eyes wide and clouded with lingering fear. She barely had time to react before his gloved fingers tapped the tip of her nose—light, almost playful.

But then—sizzle.

A searing pain bloomed where he touched her, making her flinch violently.

"Ahah," the man chuckled, his grin widening. "Got your nose—" his fingers curled around her nose, his grip tightening—"and everything else."

The White Rabbit's breath caught in her throat, panic flickering across her face. Her body began to tremble, her limbs twitching as if trying to resist—but it was already too late. The burning mark spread, slithering across her skin like a brand. Where it passed, her features began to unravel—the contours of her face flickering, turning translucent. She let out a strangled whimper, hands clawing at his wrist, but he was holding on strong.

"Hey, what did you expect? You thought I was your savior? Thought I'd scoop you up, dust you off, and send you on your merry little way?" He chuckled darkly. "Aren't you a little too old to believe in heroes?"

The White Rabbit's struggles grew weaker, her body flickering as more of her began to dissolve into the dreamscape. 

"Anyway this is just a test, don't curse me or something like that," he finished with a frown.

With a final flick of his fingers, the burning mark took over her fully—consuming what remained of the White Rabbit in a silent sizzle.

No scream. No body.

Just... gone.

The man stood, brushing the ashes from his gloves as if he'd just wiped dirt from his hands.

"I guess it works but the question remains…" he muttered, glancing at the landscape. There, he saw the girl reappear close to him, her eyes blinking in confusion. 

"As expected," he sighed heavily. "Erasure doesn't work on them like with normal people. Instead of erasing them fully, they are in deep pain and just 'die' once. I'll have to find another way to get read of these little dreams."

With that, he turned on his heel and disappeared through the rift, leaving the Drifters alone.

For now.

"So… you're Saki?" Lilith asked, her gaze fixed on the green-eyed succubus standing before the group. There was a careful edge to her voice, her posture subtly tense. Saki stood calmly, her arms crossed, though her eyes flickered with restrained wariness. Beside her, a tall, dark-skinned man clad in priestly robes remained composed, though his very presence made the rest of the succubi uneasy.

"Yeah," Saki replied with a short nod, keeping her tone measured. "Nice to meet you all."

Despite her polite words, an undercurrent of tension hung in the air. It wasn't that she hated them, not exactly—but caution was instinctive. She had long since learned not to trust succubi too quickly.

Especially not the ones close to Luka.

"And who is the handsome mister next to you…♪?" Alma Elma asked with a low whistle, her eyes locked on the priest.

The man in question merely smiled, a warm and composed expression unfazed by the attention.

"My name is Ntwali," he introduced himself, dipping his head slightly in greeting. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am a Holy Knight, but fret not—I am here as a friend of Saki. I've heard about you."

The succubi did not relax. Their wariness remained, their eyes lingering on him with suspicion.

Ntwali simply chuckled. "Ahah… It's fine. I'll stay in the back. No need to worry about me."

Saki cleared her throat, drawing their attention back. "Anyway—" she sighed, her expression turning more serious. "Someone tell me exactly what happened here. I had to calm Luka down, and he was not in a good state."

Astaroth stepped forward. "A succubus killed his friend."

Saki exhaled sharply through her nose. "Yeah. I know. Est told me everything." Her voice remained steady, but there was an unmistakable bitterness beneath it. "I'm asking what you are doing here."

Lilith hesitated, exchanging a glance with the others before speaking. "We tried to stop him," she admitted. "He was about to hurt himself."

Saki's expression darkened, her fingers twitching at her sides.

"Of course he was," she murmured under her breath, barely audible.

Ntwali glanced at her from the side but said nothing.

"Where is he now?" Alma Elma asked after a moment.

Saki's shoulders relaxed slightly as she jerked her thumb toward the clearing. "He's sleeping on the grass over there. Burned through so much energy, he couldn't even stand."

The group collectively turned their attention toward where she gestured. In the distance, Luka lay sprawled out on the soft earth, his breathing steady, his expression peaceful in sleep.

Alma Elma's lips curled into a small smile. "Good. At least he stopped."

"I also want to say…" Saki muttered her eyes locking on what Alma Elma was carrying. "Who is that in your arms?"

"Oh? This cute little kid?" Alma Elma cradled the boy who was now sleeping comfortably against her shoulder. "He was the son of Luka's friend."

Saki's breath caught slightly. Her eyes widened before she cast her gaze downward, guilt flashing across her face. "Ah… I see," she murmured. "So he is…"

"An orphan, yes," Vinum interjected, her tone flat.

The weight of those words settled over the group like a thick, suffocating fog. No one spoke, their eyes turning toward the child.

The boy remained undisturbed, his tiny fingers curled into Alma Elma's clothing, his breathing soft and steady. He had no idea that his world had been shattered. No idea that he had lost everything.

Saki clenched her fists.

"I'm not going to scold any of you because… Even if a part of me wants to, I know you did nothing wrong here," she sighed, rubbing her temple as if trying to chase away an oncoming headache. "But I can't stay with Luka…" She bit her lip, hesitating.

"Why is that?" Succubus-chan blinked, tilting her head in confusion.

"We have enough space at home," Astaroth added, crossing her arms.

"Yeah! Come with us!" Morrigan stepped forward, grinning as she playfully slapped Saki's shoulder. "It's not like you have anywhere else to be, right?"

But Saki only smiled at them, a sad, tired smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She shook her head.

"I'm sorry, but I can't. Not now at least." Her fingers curled slightly at her sides. "There's something going on… something I need to handle. And I can't let Luka know about it. Especially not now."

Vinum eyed her suspiciously but said nothing.

Saki took a deep breath, as if bracing herself for what she was about to say. She knew it was foolish—maybe even reckless—to trust them, but at this point, she had little choice.

"So… I know this is stupid of me to ask, but…" She exhaled, looking at them with an expression that was both pleading and determined. "Could you please be nice to him? At least… try to."

Morrigan blinked, tilting her head. "We're already friends with him," she said matter-of-factly. "I mean… I guess some of us annoy him a bit, but…"

"Morrigan is right," Lilith nodded. "Even if we… were enemies in the past, we are now allies. You will be sure we will take care of him."

"Luka is still interesting, so I'll be sticking around~" Succubus-chan giggled, swaying slightly.

"I thought you said he was boring during class," Vinum shot back but was met with a low whistle.

"Our plan is still in function so I'll stay too," Mayu interjected.

"Hey," Morrigan appeared behind the Hare. "Don't act like you're out of this."

Mayu's twitched, but she didn't argue.

Saki let out a slow breath, searching their faces. Despite everything, despite her lingering doubts, she could see a degree of sincerity in their words. Maybe it wasn't perfect. Maybe it wasn't the kind of care Luka truly needed.

But it was something.

"Alright," she muttered. "I'll hold you all to that."

She turned her gaze toward Luka, still peacefully asleep in the grass. He looked so exhausted, as if the weight of the world had finally crushed him into unconsciousness.

She wanted to stay. She wanted to be the one at his side. But she couldn't.

Not yet.

With one last glance at him, she turned on her heel and started walking away.

"Where are you going?" Vinum called after her.

Saki didn't stop. "Somewhere I need to be." But as she moved, she turned slightly to Ntwali.

The priest met her gaze, already understanding. He smiled. "I guess this is where we part ways, Lord of Dreams," he chuckled. "I wouldn't be of much use in your castle. So I'll go my own way."

Saki nodded. "Take care."

"You too." He bowed slightly, his posture formal but his expression warm.

And with that, Saki stepped into a rift, disappearing from their sight, her presence fading into the distance.

Ntwali watched her go, his face softening before turning to face Alma Elma and frowning. "What are you going to do with that child?" he asked, stepping closer to her.

"To be honest, I don't know…" Alma Elma sighed. "I don't think we are fit to adopt him."

Ntwali's gaze softened with understanding, but his resolve didn't waver. "I can take care of him," he said with quiet confidence. "I know a place where they can look after him and eventually find a suitable foster family."

"Even if his parents are going to get reformed here?" Mayu asked.

Ntwali shook his head gently, his expression resolute. "This place is no home for a child," he stated firmly. "Even if his parents are now part of this place, he deserves to grow up in the real world."

Alma Elma exhaled a deep sigh, giving the child one last look before she carefully handed him over to Ntwali. "Fine," she muttered, her voice softer than before. "Take care of him, mister priest…♪"

Ntwali accepted the child with a gentle but strong embrace, cradling him as though he were the most precious thing in the world. "You have my word," he said solemnly, bowing his head slightly.

The succubi stood in silence as Ntwali began to walk away, their gazes following him until he was out of sight. 

"By the way," eventually, Morrigan spoke up. "Where is Est? She was supposed to be here, no?"

Vinum, who had been staring into the distance, responded with a quiet shrug. "It seems she doesn't want to meet us yet," she said, her tone flat. "It's better if we leave with the boy now and think about the rest tomorrow."

Lilith nodded in agreement, but a flicker of concern crossed her face. "You're right. And I'm curious about what Saki was referring to earlier. Is something going on that we don't know about?"

Vinum's expression hardened, and she let out a long, heavy sigh. "It's just a theory, but…" she began, her voice taking on a more serious tone, drawing the attention of everyone around her. "From what I've observed—the way those foolish girls here have been acting, and from what I've seen… Something—or someone—is about to pose a serious threat to all succubi."

"So, what do we do?" Succubus-chan asked, her voice steady but tinged with unease. "If there's a threat coming, we need to prepare."

"If she needed our help, she would have asked us, no?" Morrigan replied.

"Maybe she doesn't trust us," Astaroth mused. "She looked a bit tense."

"Considering that some of us tried to kill him, it's no wonder," Vinum chuckled darkly. "But yes, she didn't ask for help because she doesn't trust us."

There was a long pause as everyone processed her words. Finally, Alma Elma spoke again, her voice thoughtful. "If she didn't want to involve Luka in it, it's better if we stay out of this."

Vinum nodded half-heartedly. "I agree. There is a high chance she said nothing because we can't do anything yet."

"Then it's settled," Lilith nodded. "Let's grab Luka and go home."

The neighborhood was calm and quiet, and the night began settling in. It was as if no one heard or realized what happened as Ntwali made his way through the streets, the child in his arms. 

Ntwali's thoughts were consumed by the situation, the complexities of what he had witnessed. The Hatman, the succubi—so much had transpired, and so much remained uncertain. His mind was clouded with questions, but one thing was clear: he needed to report everything to his superiors. The stakes were higher than he had initially realized.

As he walked, a chill ran down his spine. Some of the succubi he had encountered were unlike anything he had ever encountered before. Their power was overwhelming, far greater than any being he had crossed paths with in his service.

He needed to be prepared. The path ahead was unclear, but Ntwali could feel that the world was about to change. He just hoped he was ready for it when it did.

"Isn't that a late hour to walk alone, priest." a voice came through, mocking and chilling, making him stop in his tracks. 

Ntwali felt his whole body freezing, the suffocating presence of this man surrounding him like a cloak. 

"You…" Ntwali muttered, his voice low, barely a sound as he slowly turned around, instinctively tightening his grip on the child in his arms.

"Goodnight, to you and the kid over there," the man approached, his silhouette revealing under a street lamp's light. "Is it just you or is it a common thing with you priests? Always a kid in your arms," he chuckled at his joke.

"This is in poor taste," Ntwali sighed while taking a cautious step back. "Are you here to kill me?"

The Hatman raised an eyebrow at the question, as if contemplating it. He stepped closer, his eyes glinting with something unreadable in the dark.

The Hatman's voice, cool and mocking, seemed to drip with malice as he continued to speak, each word purposefully drawn out. "Oh no, I'm not as cruel as to do that," he chuckled. "I'm here to strike a deal… Well, as far as one-sided deals go," he shrugged, as if the imbalance didn't matter.

"What deal?"

The Hatman's smile widened, an almost predatory gleam in his eyes as he tilted his head slightly. "You see, there's something that would be of great help to me," he said, his hands moving in a fluid, almost theatrical manner as he spoke. "But that artifact, well, it's basically in the hands of your boss. So I wondered…" He drew out the word, tipping his hat in a mock gesture of politeness. "If you could bring me to your HQ so I could negotiate there."

A cold shiver ran down Ntwali's spine. The mention of their headquarters, the Holy Sanctum, felt like the trigger of a trap laid out specifically for him. That sacred place, protected by a powerful barrier, ensured that once someone entered, there was no escaping unless they were registered as a knight.

He's not that stupid. Ntwali thought, his pulse quickening as his mind turned the possibilities over in rapid succession. He knows exactly what he's doing.

But then another thought began to form in Ntwali's mind—What if? What if the knights could finally get rid of the Hatman? This could be the best chance they had to eliminate the man once and for all. The knights of the Holy Sanctum had weapons, power, and the authority to deal with threats like him. If they trapped the Hatman inside with the barrier, he wouldn't be able to teleport away. His arrogance, his overconfidence, could be the very thing that would allow them to trap him.

The possibility was tempting—dangerous, but tempting.

Despite the obvious danger, Ntwali couldn't ignore the opportunity. The Hatman had been a threat that needed to be dealt with, no matter what. The man's arrogance might just be their greatest asset. If he could lure him into the Sanctum, the knights could take care of the rest.

"I don't like your tone," Ntwali said slowly, taking a step back, his mind still calculating. "But I'll humor you. If this artifact is really that important to you, then why not make your request to my superiors? They'll know what to do with it."

The Hatman didn't waste a second. His face lit up with enthusiasm, and he spread his arms wide in mock celebration. "Great!" he exclaimed, as if he had won some grand victory. "That's exactly what I was thinking about! I have a deal they will absolutely love!"

Without hesitation, the Hatman sidled up to Ntwali, draping his arm casually over the priest's shoulder, a chilling, almost familiar gesture. "Okay, we're set! Bring me there." His eyes flicked over to the child in Ntwali's arms. "After you've dealt with that, of course. I don't think you can bring a kid there, can you?"

"No," Ntwali replied quietly, his grip tightening protectively around the child, "I'll take care of him first. Then I'll bring you to the Sanctum."

The Hatman didn't seem disappointed. His expression remained smug, amused even. "What? Did you think I would ask you to leave the kid on the side of the road? Bring him to an orphanage or something."

"I-I wasn't thinking that," Ntwali stammered.

"Yeah, yeah," the Hatman chuckled. "Come on, I don't want to waste much time. Let's go!"

He pulled out a talisman from his inner pocket and grabbed Ntwali forcefully. It ignited in a flash.

"Ah—" Ntwali barely had the time to react that they were already gone, the talisman transporting them far away from the city.