Succumania

He spent the rest of the day holed up in his room, the door firmly locked and his ears tuned to every sound outside. Every time he needed to use the bathroom, he cracked the door open just enough to peek into the hallway, scanning for any signs of movement. He moved like a shadow, quick and silent, as if even the slightest misstep would summon one of the succubi to pounce on him.

Of course, they noticed his absence. The knocks on his door came throughout the day, each one accompanied by a concerned voice.

"Luka? Are you okay? You missed dinner…"

"Hey, you skipped breakfast too! You're not sick, are you?"

"Luka, open up! We're worried about you!"

He ignored them all, retreating further into his room like a hermit. The thought of facing them after Saki's absurd "trial" declaration was too much to handle. Just imagining about them was enough to throw him off.

However… After breakfast, he was supposed to check in with Vinum for another one of her lessons. If he were to miss it, there was an absolute guarantee that he would get in trouble.

He sighed, staring at the ceiling as he lay on his bed. "This is ridiculous," he muttered to himself. "I can't hide in here forever."

Besides, Vinum could probably help him in some way. 

He quickly shook his head. This was a dangerous idea. In fact, after everything he had put her through, there was a high chance she would finally take this chance to kill him.

Then he looked at his arm. The mark was still present, but as a scar rather than as a fading in and out light. "Does it also mean the 'protective feeling' Succubus-chan talked about is gone?" he muttered, feeling another wave of anxiety rushing through him.

I'm screwed, aren't I… Saki, what the hell were you thinking?

Still, the hour was approaching. With a heavy sigh, he dressed for the day and headed toward Vinum's room. The hallway felt like a deathtrap, every corner and door a potential ambush, but he made it to her door without incident. He hesitated, his knuckles hovering over the wood, when a voice came in before he even knocked.

"Come in."

He pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Just like last time, it was arranged to be a classroom rather than a library, and, surprisingly, no one was there besides the little succubus in the imposing room. A blackboard dominated one wall, its surface clean save for a few faint streaks of chalk from her last lesson. Rows of desks sat empty, save for one near the front where a single chair waited.

Was she rotating the room in some way? 

"Oh. You are a bit early, but fine," she quickly noted his presence and snapped her fingers. In an instant, she transformed into her powered-up form, growing taller in the process. Her frame changed completely, her chest doubling in size and her hips curving even more. This time, she wore a white blouse open in its midsection, revealing quite clearly her black bra, as well as a skirt fitting tightly to her waist. Her newly summoned glasses only added to the strict teacher look.

Luka froze in the doorway, his breath catching as Vinum's transformation settled. Usually, he would barely acknowledge the change, despite curiosity, but now a feeling of unease was taking over him. 

In fact, he found her not only beautiful but… something else now. For the first time.

"Uh… hi," he managed, stepping inside and shutting the door behind him. "Didn't mean to interrupt if I was too soon."

"You didn't," she replied, her voice cool and disinterested. Then, she gestured to the lone chair. "Sit. I'm going to begin the lesson."

He nodded stiffly and shuffled to the chair, dropping into it with a creak of old wood. His hands fidgeted in his lap as he tried to steady his breathing. Focus. No need to get worked up. You've been around her plenty of times. Why does this feel different?

Vinum arched a delicate eyebrow, her icy gaze raking over him with clinical precision. A bead of sweat prickled at his temple, sliding down his cheek in a slow, traitorous crawl, but she dismissed it with a faint shrug and turned to the blackboard. Her chalk scratched across the surface in sharp, precise strokes, forming words that made Luka's pulse quicken despite his efforts to stay calm:

Energy Drain and Magic : What is food for a succubus?

He stared at the words, his fingers tightening around the edge of his notebook. Vinum's chalk tapped the board with a deliberate rhythm, punctuating the silence as she turned to face him, her expression unreadable.

"Energy drain," she began, her voice clinical. "You know it, it's how succubi feed in general. Magic…" She paused, tapping the second word. "Can also be used to drain energy, but we're going to tackle that later in the lesson."

He swallowed, nodding slowly. "Okay," he said as he took a notebook in his hands.

"As you know from the last lesson…" She crossed her arms, her posture rigid, her voice taking on the cadence of a seasoned professor.

 "Succubi are a type of creature that can come in various forms with each one different characteristics. With that, it also means we have different ways to eat and to survive."

Luka nodded along while she continued.

"Classic succubi thrive on sexual intercourse," she continued, her hand moving with practiced ease as she sketched a crude schematic on the board—a stick figure with arrows flowing toward a curved line labeled "semen." The bluntness of it made Luka's cheeks flush, but he kept his eyes on the board, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. "They feed primarily through semen. The energy drain triggers at ejaculation, converting a man's life force into sustenance for her to consume."

He hesitated, then raised a hand, his curiosity outweighing his discomfort. "Wait… you're converting life force into that?" he asked, his brow furrowing. "What does that mean, concretely? What is life force?"

Prof Vinum smirked. "Kuku… a sharp question, my dear student. The 'why' is simple," she said, waving a hand dismissively. "It's efficient—direct. The act releases energy; we siphon it, refine it into sustenance. Basic, but effective." She turned back to the board, chalk scratching as she jotted keywords: Physical Life Force, Conversion .

"As for 'how,'" she continued, her tone brisk, "life energy splits into two categories. The first—call it Physical Life Force—is the simplest. A succubus converts your cells into semen through a natural process during intercourse."

Luka blinked, his pen hovering over his notebook as he stared at her schematic, the arrows burning into his mind like a brand. "Cells into… semen?" he echoed, his voice a mix of disbelief and unease. "You're saying it's… biological?"

"Precisely," Vinum said, tapping the board with her chalk. "Physical Life Force is your body's vitality, stamina, the energy in your muscles, your blood. During intercourse, it triggers a release, and we accelerate it—transmuting cellular energy into something tangible we can absorb. Semen's just the vessel."

"I see…" he shifted on his chair, a sense of unease settling in his chest. "Is that why you are sometimes talking about dryfishing?"

"In a sense," she said, her smirk fading. "It's why our 'food' often ends up a husk—muscles shriveled and atrophied, skin pale and withered, hair whitening—all drained dry. 'Dryfishing' is just the crude term for it."

"So you're actually eating men," he muttered, tapping his pen against his chin, his voice low and troubled. "It's not just some magical concept of… something."

"Pieces, yes," Vinum said, crossing her arms, her tone clinical but unapologetic. "We drain the body's reserves. We just convert what we absorb into magical energy later on. That doesn't mean there isn't a spiritual feeding as well."

Her chalk tapped the board again, underscoring a new phrase in bold strokes: Spiritual Life Force. "This one leans more into the realm of magic," she explained. "Classic succubi can't drain it directly—it's beyond their reach. It encompasses memories, sanity, emotions—everything that touches the mind."

Luka's eyes widened, his pen freezing mid-word. "You can drain memories out of people?!"

"Some of us can," Vinum sighed, her tone tinged with faint exasperation. "I, for example, am capable of it, though it's not used as mere sustenance. Some succubi call it the 'level drain'—a foolish term, if you ask me." She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "In essence, we can siphon a man's experiences and learn from them."

"I see…" Luka's voice was faint, his mind reeling as he tried to process the implications.

"It's not exactly food, per se," she continued, straightening with a hint of pride. "But it's a means to learn—and to dominate humans more easily. By absorbing what they fear, for instance, we can wield it against them."

"What about mana?" Luka asked, leaning forward slightly. "Can you drain that too?"

"Of course," Vinum nodded, her tone matter-of-fact. "When a man's at our mercy, mana's absorbed as well—if he has any. But with resourceful humans, it can be harder to extract. Some succubi lack the skill to do so, often due to inexperience."

She tapped the board again, her chalk punctuating each point with a sharp clack . "So: Physical Life Force is your vitality, Spiritual Life Force is your will, and mana ties them both together. Understood?"

Luka nodded slowly, his pen scratching across the paper as he jotted down her words. "Yeah, understood," he said, though he couldn't help but somewhat get distracted by a strange hot sensation within him.

"Now," Vinum said, wiping the board clean with a swift sweep of her arm before scratching a new word in bold, precise strokes: Energy Drain Spell. "There's another layer I want you to grasp. It might confuse a feeble mind, so keep up."

A vein throbbed on Luka's forehead, irritation flaring at the jab, but he bit back a retort. "I'm following."

"There's a spell most succubi learn," she continued, ignoring his reaction. "Those who don't are fools or children—and even children know it. It shares its name with the process: Energy Drain."

"Does it… drain energy?" he asked, voice flat.

Vinum shot him an unamused glance, her lips thinning. "Keep the sass to yourself, boy. But yes, you're correct. The Energy Drain spell does precisely what the natural process does, but through magical means."

He shifted, his chair creaking faintly. "So… it's stronger than just feeding?"

"More precise," she corrected, tapping the board again. "Feeding's a grab—whatever we can take in the moment. The spell targets, refines—pulls what we want, when we want. A skilled succubus can drain a man's stamina mid-fight, sap his will in a glance, even strip his mana if he's careless."

"I see… So it's more of a vampiric spell…" he muttered, scribbling again.

"I'm surprised you didn't know about that, succubus slayer," she gave him a disappointed look. "Did you even learn anything from all your kills?"

"H-Hey… That's mean…"

"I am curious," she crossed her arms. "There must be a reason why you keep scribbling obvious things, don't you think?"

"It's because the succubi I met back then were slightly different," he sighed. "Yes, they could do that. But it's also because I only interacted with one who was eating through dreams and…" he looked away awkwardly. "Pills."

"Dreams?" Vinum raised an eyebrow, her tone shifting to mild intrigue. "That's not uncommon, but it's specific—tied to a certain breed. But… pills ?" Her brow arched higher, skepticism flickering in her icy stare. "Are you saying they crafted some kind of food without harming humans?"

"Yes," Luka nodded. "But it wasn't efficient at all. In the end, if they were only eating through pills, they would grow weak and die early."

Vinum tilted her head, her expression shifting from skepticism to analytical curiosity. "Pills as a substitute," she mused, her voice low and thoughtful. "Fascinating—and flawed. Dream-eaters, I assume?"

"Yes," Luka said, leaning back in his chair. "The pills were made from the dreams of the people and taken form. It would allow them to create one from a person but… Only one time. Otherwise, the man would lose his ability to sleep normally and die from exhaustion."

Vinum's eyes narrowed, her fingers tapping her crossed arms as she processed his words. "Dream-forged pills," she said, her tone crisp with intrigue. "A distilled essence of Spiritual Life Force—memories, emotions, sleep itself—crystallized into a consumable form. Clever, but…" She paused, her icy gaze sharpening. "Stupidly shortsighted. Why go to such length if it's just to be so inefficient?" She sighed and rolled her eyes, her voice dripping with disdain. "Eating their prey the old-fashioned way is much more efficient if you ask me."

Luka's jaw tightened, his muscles tensing as a flicker of anger sparked in his chest. He said nothing, but his silence spoke volumes.

"Kuku… she chuckled darkly. "Did I strike a nerve? Is it because I mocked their pathetic attempt to change their ways?"

"No, it's not that," Luka snapped, frustration spilling into his sigh. "It's because you're mocking someone's life work."

"Hm," she hummed, her eyes boring into his.

"She was not shortsighted. She knew damn well that sticking to those pills instead of humans would kill her. But she made her choice."

"I guess… you may be right…" she sighed. "I'm not going to mock another's life work, especially in this domain. Anyway, I don't think a similar thing would be possible for us. After all, we do not eat things as harmless as dreams."

Luka studied her, caught off guard by the sudden shift in her tone. "You're admitting that so easily?"

Vinum smirked, shrugging one shoulder with a casual elegance. "What, were you expecting more mockery? More condescension?" She tilted her head, eyes gleaming with amusement. "I may enjoy breaking people down, but I'm not blind to effort when I see it. Even a flawed idea has its merits."

Luka exhaled, leaning back in his chair. "So… you're saying it's impossible for succubi like you?"

"Not impossible," Vinum corrected, tapping a manicured finger against the board. "Just… unsustainable. Dream-eaters work differently. They tap into something ephemeral—taking without necessarily destroying. But even then, they had to refine it into those pills just to survive." She let out a breath, almost as if the idea annoyed her. "For the rest of us, energy is more… direct. The more refined the consumption, the greater the loss. That's why natural feeding is superior."

Luka's lips twitched, a wry thought crossing his mind. "So you're saying it'd be impossible to just… get energy from a sperm bank?" he asked, his tone dry.

"Exactly," she nodded, her expression unreadable.

He hesitated, then leaned forward, his voice dropping to a more serious note. "Does that mean you're forced to kill your prey to live?"

She stopped, her expression shifting to one of mild annoyance. "You still cling to that possibility, don't you?"

"I mean," he shrugged. "So far, none of you has died, right? It means you can survive without killing people."

"In short… we can," she admitted, though her tone suggested she wasn't thrilled about it. "But it's not as simple as you seem to think."

"Then why aren't you doing it?" Luka pressed, leaning forward. "If you can survive without killing, why not just… take what you need and leave them alive?"

Vinum's eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a faint, almost predatory smile. "Are you taking a chop out of a pork and then leaving it be?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Hey! The comparison is not fair!" Luka shot back, his face flushing with indignation.

"Isn't it?" Vinum countered, her tone sharp. "You humans consume without a second thought. You eat meat, wear leather, use products tested on animals—all while preaching about morality and ethics. But when it comes to us, suddenly it's a problem?"

"Again, not similar…" he gritted his teeth.

"You're right," she chuckled. "Still, I am a fervent believer in not wasting food. Devouring a man completely is far more nutritious than just nibbling at multiple ones throughout the day and letting them live…"

"Ah… I see…" Luka muttered, his expression a mix of disgust and reluctant understanding.

"Also," she added, her smile widening, "the last bite is always the most delicious."

"There! That's your true reason, you damn demon!" Luka exclaimed, pointing an accusatory finger at her.

Vinum almost laughed, her cold and calm stance cracking for once. "Caught me, did you?" she said, her eyes glinting mischievously. "Indeed, we do it mostly for the thrill of it."

"Still, you're not killing anyone anymore as long as I'm here," he added, his tone firm.

"Fine," she sighed, waving a hand dismissively, though the faintest hint of a smirk lingered on her lips. "It's not like I'm particularly attached to killing my prey anyway. I have other ways to enjoy it."

"Eh?" Luka blinked, caught off guard by her sudden compliance. "You're accepting this quite easily, professor."

Vinum's smirk deepened as she tilted her head, her white hair spilling over one shoulder.

"I've lived for so long that food in this world has become stale," she said, her voice tinged with a weary amusement. "I swear, the more time passes, the less tasty humans are. Now it feels more like a chore."

Luka stared at her, his frustration giving way to curiosity. "So… you're saying you're bored?"

"You could say that. Humans are becoming predictable. Their fears, their desires, their flavors. After centuries it feels like I already tasted everything."

"And yet you keep going."

"Because every now and then…" Vinum's gaze slid to him, her predatory smile sharpening. "Someone likes you comes along and makes things… interesting."

"Great," Luka deadpanned, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Anyway, back to the lesson," she tapped the board with a ruler. "Now you also know why we are eating you little humans. Because you can be tasty, entertaining, and it's fun to see you break under our power."

"Huh…"

"This is an intrinsic part of our nature that nothing can change," she said matter-of-factly. "No matter what, a succubus will always feel pleasure and seek to dominate men in one way or the other."

"What about Saki? She isn't like that…" he muttered.

Vinum paused, her ruler hovering mid-tap, then smirked. "I'm not talking about domination in the blunt sense—chains and whips and all that. It's subtler. The face our prey makes mid-thrust, the fear trembling under our grip, the way we toy with them…" She tilted her head, her smile teasing. "In the end, you humans do the same—just in clumsier, roundabout ways. Think of it as a game we savor playing."

"I see…" Luka said, his eyes narrowing slightly as the pieces clicked. If Saki's like that too… yeah, I can see it. She loves screwing with me.

"Anyway, magic-wise, we have multiple spells to dominate humans," Vinum continued, her tone shifting back to its clinical edge as she scratched Spells onto the board in tight, angular strokes. "Whether it's mind control, emotion manipulation, or simple restraints and paralysis… we have many ways to stop prey from resisting."

"You've got a whole toolbox to mess with us."

"Exactly," Vinum said, her chalk scratching Spells in tight, angular strokes. "Feeding is instinctive while spells are the craft. Mind control bends thoughts—makes you kneel without a fight. Emotion manipulation stirs panic or lust, whatever we fancy. Restraints and paralysis?" She smirked, her eyes glinting. "Keeps you still while we eat."

"Sounds like we basically have no chance of winning…" he muttered in frustration.

"You don't," Vinum nodded, her smirk widening into something almost smug.

"Also, could you please stop using 'prey' as a word?" he sighed.

"No. This is what you are under normal circumstances. Get used to it."

Luka exhaled through his nose, rubbing his temple. "You really enjoy rubbing that in, don't you?"

"Kuku… Of course," Vinum chuckled, her smile widening. "A reminder of your place is part of the fun."

Luka crossed his arms. "Yet, I'm still here. Alive. Not exactly fitting the 'prey' role, am I?"

Vinum tilted her head, amused. "Mmm, an exception to the rule. But that just makes it more thrilling, don't you think?" She turned back to the board, tapping it again. "But enough ego-stroking. If you want to keep surviving, you'd best start taking notes."

Luka sighed but readied his pen anyway.

"As I was saying," she continued, her chalk scratching out three new categories in sharp, decisive strokes: Physical Control, Mental Manipulation, Emotional Influence. "Our spells can be broadly categorized into these three groups. If you can counter all three, you're mostly in the clear."

"Why 'mostly'?" Luka asked, his brow furrowing as he glanced up from his notes.

Vinum sighed, her expression one of faint annoyance as she turned to face him fully. "Because if you still find yourself having sex with one of us and ejaculate, pray to your nonexistent god that she doesn't decide to finish you off." Her voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, her icy gaze pinning him in place. "Though I'll make myself clear: if it's me, you're dead."

Luka coughed, nearly choking on his own breath as a flush crept up his neck. "Right. Good to know," he muttered, his voice strained as he scribbled another note, his hand shaking slightly.

Vinum raised an eyebrow but pressed on, turning back to the board. "Good," she said, her tone brisk once more. "So that concludes our little lesson. Now you know what to expect in terms of abilities if you were to face a succubus."

"What about normal spells, like elemental ones?" Luka asked, his curiosity getting the better of him as he closed his notebook.

"I am teaching you about succubi, not magic," she said as she wiped the blackboard clean. "Of course, some succubi can use magic. But you can't expect which one can or cannot."

Luka nodded, tucking his notebook under his arm as he stood. It wasn't that much to process, most of it he could already figure it out but it was good to have confirmation from someone like her. 

As he made his quick way toward the exit, Vinum turned back into her smaller form and interrupted him. "By the way, boy."

He froze, his fingers brushing the doorknob as a nervous tremor ran through him. "Y-Yes?" he stammered, forcing a weak smile as he glanced back at her. "I kinda need to pee, so…"

Luka didn't see her, but he could sense her frown deepening into a cold, icy stare that sent a chill through his bones.

"Another thing," she sighed, her voice low and dangerous. "I know when someone lies. Like I said, you are all predictable."

"Ahah…" Luka chuckled weakly, turning his head just enough to flash her a strained smile, though his eyes betrayed his panic. "Truly, you're overthinking things, professor."

Vinum's eyes narrowed, her small form radiating a quiet intensity as she crossed her arms. She closed her eyes for a moment, as if in deep thought, then sighed again, the sound heavy with exasperation. "Good grief… Boy, come back here with a set of clothes you won't mind dirtying. You have five minutes."

"Eh?" Luka blinked, his hand still on the doorknob as his mind raced. "What for?"

Vinum's eyes snapped open, her stare sharp and rigid. "Do you really want to waste time asking questions, or would you rather find out the hard way?"

Luka swallowed hard, his mind racing as he tried to decipher her cryptic command. "Right. Five minutes. Got it." 

He hurried out of the room, his heart pounding as he tried to figure out what she had planned. Whatever it was, he had a feeling it wasn't going to be pleasant.

Shit, did she find out about what Saki did? 

Still, he had no choice but to comply for now. If he were to raise suspicions, things would get worse and he wouldn't see another day. The thought gnawed at him as he rummaged through his closet, pulling out an old pair of pants and a faded t-shirt that barely fit anymore. They'd have to do. He changed quickly, his movements jerky and frantic, then raced back to Vinum's room, his heart hammering against his ribs as he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

"I-I'm back," he panted, closing the door behind him with a shaky hand. His eyes locked onto Vinum, who stood near her desk, her small form somehow more intimidating than ever. "What's the deal?"

"Sit," she said, pointing to a chair beside her desk with a sharp jab of her finger, her tone leaving no room for argument.

A chill ran through him, his instincts screaming danger.

I HAVE A VERY BAD FEELING ABOUT THIS!

"I think I should just… go," he said, forcing a weak smile as his voice dropped to a shaky whisper.

"Boy." Vinum sighed, her voice dripping with disappointment. "Don't."

Luka's legs felt like lead, but he forced himself to shuffle toward the chair, each step heavier than the last. He dropped into the seat, the creak of wood beneath him sounding unnaturally loud in the tense silence. Vinum watched him, her icy blue eyes unblinking, dissecting every twitch of his expression.

"So… what's this about?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady despite the nervous sweat beading on his forehead.

Vinum didn't answer immediately. Instead, she closed the distance between them with a slow, deliberate grace, her small form radiating an intensity that made the air feel electric. She stopped just inches away, her presence overwhelming his senses, whether it was her scent or just the sound of her soft breathing in the silent room.

He kept his face forward, not daring to meet her gaze, his hands gripping the arms of the chair as if they were his only lifeline.

Shit, I can smell her perfume or something—! he gritted his teeth, his legs shaking. Why the hell am I so sensitive? It feels like there is a bomb next to me! A succubomb!

"Boy…" she whispered, a cheeky smile spreading on her lips. "Let me check something."

"What?" His voice came out as a panicky squeal as she moved closer still, climbing onto his lap with a fluid grace that sent his nerves into overdrive. Her hands slid around his shoulders, her touch light but deliberate, pinning him in place with nothing but her proximity.

Luka froze, every muscle in his body tensing as his mind screamed at him to move, to push her off, to do s omething . But he couldn't. Her scent—something faintly sweet and intoxicating—clouded his senses, and the weight of her on his lap made it impossible to think straight. His breath hitched, shallow and uneven, as a sudden stiffness surged in his lower body, betraying him entirely.

"W-What are you doing?" he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. His hands hovered awkwardly at his sides, unsure whether to grab her or the chair for stability. 

Vinum tilted her head, her icy gaze locking onto his with an intensity that made his stomach twist. "Checking your reactions," she said, her tone clinical despite the predatory edge in her smile. "I think if I just do this—" She shifted her hips in a single, deliberate movement.

That one motion was enough.

The sensation of her soft arms around him, her intoxicating scent, the warmth of her breath grazing his skin, and the subtle press of her body against his now-throbbing member overwhelmed him. A rush of pleasure unlike anything he'd ever felt surged through him, and a damp spot bloomed on his pants between his legs.

"Ah… Ah…" he let out a shaky breath, his body trembling under her grasp. 

What the hell? What just happened? His mind spun, a chaotic mess as he tried to process the sudden, uncontrollable release. He was paralyzed, utterly at her mercy, his body still prickling with goosebumps as the aftershocks of pleasure lingered.

Vinum sighed, her expression a mix of exasperation and faint amusement as she felt the familiar wet warmth through the fabric. "I knew something was off…" she muttered, her voice tinged with a grudging curiosity. "Boy, where did your resistance go?"

Luka's face burned with humiliation, his breath still coming in ragged gasps as he tried to piece together his shattered composure. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, nails digging into his palms as he fought to regain some semblance of control. But the lingering aftershocks of pleasure—and the stark reality of his vulnerability—kept him pinned in place, unable to meet Vinum's gaze.

"I… I don't—" he stammered, his voice cracking as he struggled to form a coherent thought. "That wasn't… I didn't mean to—"

Vinum leaned back slightly, still perched on his lap, her arms crossed as she studied him with a mix of pity and disdain. "Pathetic," she said, though her tone lacked the sharpness he'd expected. "You truly are a mess. You're lucky I understand the situation."

"W-What?" he blinked. 

"The mark on your arm," she said, her voice steady as her gaze flicked to the scar on his forearm. "Also the fact that you looked at me differently during class. Somehow your power to resist succubi is gone, isn't it?"

"I…I…" he stammered.

Shit! She is going to kill me!

But, unexpectedly, she slid off his lap and sighed, brushing a strand of white hair behind her ear with a flick of her wrist. "Truly pathetic," she muttered, though there was a trace of amusement in her tone. "Without the help of a succubus, you're just a helpless boy in the end."

"Wait, that's—"

"Quiet," she snapped. "Once you've recovered from that, you'll explain everything to me. Also…" She leaned closer, her hand brushing against his thigh as a small light surrounded them both. In an instant, the damp spot remained, but the wet feeling was gone.

She licked her lips as if tasting something. "Hm. Yes, not bad at all," she mused, her voice tinged with satisfaction. "You have good flavor, you know that?"

"What?! How?" he shot back, the feeling in his limbs returning slowly. "What did you just do?" he asked, his voice still shaky as he glanced down at his pants, then back to her.

Vinum smirked, straightening up as she crossed her arms. "Cleaned up your mess—partially. I'm not running a laundry service here. But I did take a small taste. Consider it payment for my patience."

His stomach twisted, a mix of embarrassment and unease settling in. "Payment?" he echoed, voice barely above a whisper. "You didn't have to—"

"Don't flatter yourself," she interrupted, waving a hand dismissively. "It was barely a sip. Hardly worth the effort. Now…" She leaned against the edge of her desk, her gaze sharpening as it locked onto him. "Tell me about the mark. What happened to it? And don't lie—I'll know."

Luka swallowed hard, but he still explained. He told her about how Saki had set up a trial and he was now hypersensitive for some reason. 

Vinum's expression didn't change, but her silence spoke volumes. She tapped a finger against her crossed arms, the rhythmic sound filling the room as she processed his words. "A trial," she repeated, her tone laced with skepticism. "And you didn't think to mention this earlier? To me, or anyone else?"

"I thought you would jump on me the second I leave my room!" he shot back, his voice rising in frustration.

"You're not wrong there…" she mused, her lips curling into a faint smile. "In fact, you're lucky it was me who found out first."

Luka blinked, his confusion growing. "Lucky? How?"

Vinum's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Because, unlike some of the others, I have a vested interest in keeping you alive. For now, at least."

Luka's stomach churned at her words, a mix of relief and unease settling in. "So… what happens now?"

"I'll train you," Vinum sighed, her tone begrudging but resolute. "Or at least, I'll give you the tools to survive. Do you know the details of her trial? Other than the obvious—that she plans to suck you dry?"

"Not really…" he scratched the back of his head, his embarrassment evident as he avoided her gaze. "She was pretty vague about it. How do you even go about surviving a succubus in the first place?"

"You can survive if you can satisfy her," she replied. "Whether it is her entertainment or you have enough life force to fill her stomach…" She chuckled darkly at the last idea. "Quite the impossible task, if you ask me."

"Still… I don't have a choice…" he sighed.

"You're right," she nodded."Fortunately, you're a talented mage—I'll give you that. With enough training, you might become a man capable of satisfying even the strongest succubi."

"That sounds both cool and weird at the same time…"

"Anyway," a cruel smirk appeared on her face. "My dear student, I hope you are not too afraid of death."

"What do you mean…?" he asked, his voice wary as he straightened in his chair, his instincts screaming danger once more.

"Kuku… I have an idea so that you will be able to train until that 'party' arrives. You may go back to your room and make sure to lock it down. I will see you when I'm finished."

Luka's stomach dropped, the ominous tone of her words sending a shiver down his spine. "Training?" he echoed, his voice tinged with apprehension. "What kind of training involves me being afraid of death?"

Vinum's smirk didn't waver as she turned to her desk, pulling out a small, weathered journal bound in cracked leather. "The kind that ensures you're ready for that girl," she said, her tone deceptively casual as she flipped through the pages. "You will need practice to get better. Now, go, I have things to do."

Luka hesitated, but he slumped his shoulders in resignation and walked to the door. As his hand hovered over the doorknob, he glanced back at her. "By the way… Thank you for helping me and not making too much fun of me, teacher."

Vinum sighed, the sound heavy with exasperation as she waved a hand dismissively without looking up from her journal. "Good grief… Just go already. Or do you want me to end your life now?"

"O-Okay! Bye!" Luka yelped, darting out of the room and closing the door behind him with a hasty thud.

Vinum chuckled softly to herself, the sound echoing in the empty classroom. "This will be fun. It's the first time I'll train a human to resist us… I hope he doesn't break." Her smirk softened into something almost fond as she murmured, "I have high hopes for you, boy."

After a long day, the night arrived. Luka was barricaded in his room once more, the door locked tight. The faint scent of soap lingered on his skin after a long, scalding shower, and he'd thrown on his usual worn jeans and a faded t-shirt, the fabric soft but offering little comfort. He sat cross-legged on his bed, his back against the wall, staring blankly at the chipped paint on the opposite wall as his mind churned

The memory of Vinum lingered like a stubborn itch he couldn't scratch. The weight of her on his lap, the warmth of her body, the faint, flowery scent that had clouded his senses… It all clung to him so vividly. His fingers twitched against the rough fabric of his jeans, and he clenched his jaw, trying to shove the thought away.

What the hell is happening to me? he thought, his brow furrowing as a flush crept up his neck. Not long ago, that wouldn't have done a damn thing to me. Get your shit together, Luka!

He exhaled sharply.

This whole situation was a mess. The more time passed, the more a bitter resentment toward Saki simmered in his gut. Sure, part of him was relieved to feel something again, to experience pleasure after years of numbness. But this? This was humiliating. 

She just touched me and… It was enough. 

"I wasn't like this before… pretty sure…" he muttered under his breath, his hand raking through his damp hair.

His previous life, way before he met Saki wasn't bad but nothing to get jealous over either. Looking for a job, no social life, uneventful years like someone spectating his own life. And his sex life? He almost chuckled. Nonexistent didn't even begin to cover it. His first kiss was stolen by a random girl, whose name he didn't even remember, as a joke.

Still, he remembered the old time, and while he had always been sensitive to other's touch, it was nowhere near this level. If he couldn't handle a little bit of teasing, how was he supposed to survive Saki's trial? 

I hope she is not that serious about killing me… Nah, she wouldn't do that, would she? 

"Dammit," he clicked his tongue. "I should've asked if it's a custom or not for the guy you like to suck him dry or something…"

A sudden knock at the door jolted him from his thoughts. He froze, his breath catching in his throat as his eyes darted to the locked door. The sound came again, louder this time, accompanied by a voice.

"It's me, boy. Open the door," Vinum's voice was muffled through the wood. 

"Coming!" Luka blurted out, his voice cracking slightly as he scrambled off the bed, nearly tripping over a stray sock in his haste. His fingers fumbled with the lock for a moment before he managed to turn it, the mechanism clicking open with a faint squeak. He eased the door open slowly, just a crack at first, and peeked down, only to be met by Vinum's sharp blue eyes staring up at him. She didn't wait for an invitation. With a faint huff, she pushed past him, her petite form slipping into the room with the confidence of someone who owned the place. Luka blinked, caught off guard, and quickly shut the door behind her, the latch clicking softly as he turned to face her.

"So… it's already over?" he asked, his tone cautious as he leaned against the door, arms crossing over his chest in a half-hearted attempt to seem nonchalant despite the recent memories.

"It is," she smirked. Under her arm, she was carrying a small box. "Your friend Nina is a talented individual, I am glad to work with her."

"Wait… Nina? What did you both do?"

"She is someone who worked with time magic, did she not?" she asked, while laying the box on Luka's desk. She looked at the turned-off computer for a second before turning around. "Thanks to her I managed to contact that Saki you talked about. I needed to confirm if you were telling the total truth."

"Should I know what would have happened if I lied?" he asked nervously.

"I would have already killed you, boy," she smirked. "Since that feeling of protection is gone, I don't have that incessant voice in my head to not hurt you."

"It's bad for me, isn't it?"

"Not really," Vinum replied, her smile softening into something almost… reassuring, though the predatory glint in her eyes kept him on edge. She tilted her head again, studying him with a mix of curiosity and amusement, like a cat toying with a particularly interesting mouse. "What you will experience will be unique, you should be grateful."

Luka's eyes narrowed slightly, his unease deepening as he glanced at the box on his desk, then back to her. "Grateful, huh?" he muttered, skepticism creeping into his tone as he rubbed the back of his neck, trying to shake off the lingering tension. "That's not exactly the word I'd use right now…"

"You'll understand soon enough," she said, opening the box to reveal intricate magic circles spinning around a small statuette.

"Wait… That's—" Luka pointed at the box, his eyes widening in recognition.

It was the same statuette she'd given him in that dream—the one that let him reset the day every time he died.

"Exactly, the same statuette I gave you in that dream," she nodded. "But this one has been enhanced, or rather modified thanks to Nina's expertise."

"It's weird to see you being grateful…"

"It's because I will record this experience myself. And you, and everyone here, will be the test subject."

"What do you mean? Doesn't the statuette only reset one person? Also, YOU WERE SERIOUS ABOUT ME DYING?!" Luka's voice shot up an octave, his eyes wide as he took an instinctive step back, his shoulder brushing against the door behind him.

Vinum's smirk widened, clearly enjoying his reaction as she leaned against the desk, one hand resting lightly on the edge of the box. "Calm down, boy," she said, her tone laced with amusement. "Yes, I was serious—partially. The dying part is… optional, depending on how well you perform. As for the statuette…" She gestured toward it with a flick of her wrist, the faint glow of the spinning magic circles casting eerie patterns across her face. "Nina's modifications allow it to affect a localized area, not just one person. Everyone within its range will be caught in the loop if things go wrong."

Luka's mouth opened, then closed, his brain scrambling to process her words. "A loop?" he repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief. "So… what, we're all stuck repeating the same day if I mess up and die?"

"Not exactly," she sighed. "You see, this statuette's design made it so that past the 24-hour mark, it needed time to recharge otherwise it wouldn't work. With this box, and with the modifications Nina gave to it, only your axis of time will change while this house will remain unchanged. Allowing it to consume less energy, and thus having it last longer."

"So… I'm immortal?" he blinked. "Wait, wait, wait… Where are you going with this?"

"You're immortal for approximately a month," she said. "After that, the statuette will enter her dormant state and then need adjustments."

Luka stared at her, the implications sinking in like a stone in his gut. "A month," he echoed, his voice quieter now, tinged with a mix of awe and dread. He ran a hand through his hair, the damp strands sticking to his fingers as he tried to piece it together. "So… I can't die for a month… Don't tell me…"

Vinum nodded without hiding her amusement. "I did this kind of experiment some time ago but it turned out a disappointment. Now, it will be easier for your mind since only your body will reset while everyone keeps track of time."

"I don't know if I should be grateful or spite you," he sighed heavily. "You're basically telling me I have no chance to survive here."

"You already forgot the lesson I gave you?" she deadpanned. "You humans have no chance against us in sex."

"Still…" Luka muttered, his voice trailing off as he struggled to find the right words.

"Good grief…" Vinum sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as if dealing with a particularly stubborn child. "Do you wasnt to marry her or not? Do you want to survive or not? Or have you already given up on life? If that's the case…"She smirked. "I would be willing to help you with that."

"No, it's just…" Luka hesitated, his mind racing as he tried to articulate his thoughts. "I didn't expect all of this to be this complicated. I figured it would be hard for me to live in this house now, but I wasn't really thinking of… training."

Vinum's expression softened. "Then you will need a plan. Because as of now, you barely resist my touch, which is better than most as I need a lot more energy to paralyze you. You're not completely powerless."

Luka blinked, surprised by her admission.

Vinum's lips curled into a faint smile. 

"Don't get ahead of yourself. You're still a long way from being able to resist a determined succubus. But you're not entirely defenseless, either. That's something you can work with."

"What's the plan, professor?" he asked

"I'm leaving you to figure it out," she said, crossing her arms. "I won't teach you how or tell you what to do. Like I said, I'm just giving you the tools—for my own experiment."

"So you're not helping me…" he sighed.

"No," she chuckled."But once a week, I'll evaluate you. I'll grade your resistance and tactics, then point out what needs work."

"Evaluation…?" He frowned, tilting his head. "What am I, back in school?"

Vinum's smile widened. "You could say that. You've got your statuette, your month of resets—use them. And don't disappoint me, Luka."

"Did you just use my name?" he blinked.

"So what?" she sighed exasperatedly. "Don't take it to heart. From now on, you're walking food for everyone here. Try not to break." With that, she turned and left, the door clicking shut behind her.

Luka stared at the closed door, her words sinking in. "Walking food, huh?" he muttered, running a hand through his hair. The faint hum of the statuette on his desk drew his gaze, and he noticed a numerical clock ticking down in hours, minutes, and seconds—a month of immortality staring back at him. A small piece of paper was tucked inside the box, and he reached for it.

"It's a note from Nina…" he sighed, picking it up and flipping it over. Scrawled in bold, messy handwriting were the words: "YOU LUCKY BASTARD!!! Also, the range is the house only. Don't go die elsewhere."

"Lucky? How is any of that lucky?" he sighed. "If one thing, I'm sure to get my virginity taken now…"

He rubbed his temples, the reality of it sinking in. This felt like a fever dream, so much so that he wanted to go back to the Dreamworld to give a word to Saki. A month of resets, stuck in this house with a bunch of succubi who'd probably jump at the chance to toy with him—and no real guide to get through it. Vinum's "evaluations" loomed like a weekly judgment day, and Nina's note only made it worse. Lucky? More like cursed.

"Also…" Luka glanced at the box, his eyes narrowing as he studied the statuette. "No way that thing's perfect. They threw it together in a day…"

Still, he could feel Nina's craftsmanship in its faint buzz, and—more subtly—a hint of Saki's magic laced into it. That made him pause.

"Yeah, this house is caught between the real world and the Dreamworld now," he sighed, casting a quick Control spell to confirm it.

Saki had a hand in this, didn't she? She'd orchestrated the trial, so it figured she'd help tweak things to keep him alive—barely. "Does she want me to lose my damn mind or what?" he muttered, shaking his head in frustration. "Okay, focus. Step by step."

He picked up his notebook and flipped it open. The lesson Vinum gave him earlier was in a way premonitory. With the knowledge he just gained, perhaps he could work around the Energy Drain to survive. 

Stay calm. Test limits. Don't die too much.  

Dying wasn't avoidable, he quickly made a cross on surviving every encounter. He had multiple close calls in the past, and even died once. Dying in the arms of a succubus couldn't be that scary, right? 

The statuette's clock ticked down in the corner of his eye—hours, minutes, seconds slipping away. A month of this madness. He tapped his pen against the page, his mind churning. "Start small," he muttered. "Where's my tier list?"

He flipped to a worn page, revealing a list he'd scratched out over time—ranking the house's succubi by danger and power. He scanned it, tapping the pen against his chin. The imps—Remi, Rumi, Rami—sat at the bottom. Next was Succubus-chan. But here, Succubus-chan might outdo Eva and the Mayor in this context, he figured.

"Okay, let's redo this tier list based on what I know…" He started writing, muttering under his breath as he went. 

From weakest to strongest (in sex):

Remi - Rumi - Rami - Eva - Mayor - Succubus-chan - Misaki Yui - (Naoe Mayu, Mizuki Yukari) - Vinum? - Morrigan - Astaroth - (Alma Elma = Lilith?)

"Great," he grumbled, scribbling notes in the margins. "Endgame bosses are a total guess…" He leaned back, staring at the list. The imps were safe enough. Succubus-chan was unpredictable, and he didn't even really know which one of the first few was the most dangerous. And Vinum… where did she even fit? Then there were the heavy hitters—Morrigan, Astaroth, maybe Lilith. Alma Elma was at the top for obvious reasons he didn't want to admit.

Start with the low tiers. The imps shouldn't be able to kill me, right? I mean, they're cute little sex devils. In fact, I even feel bad to even entertain the idea to test myself against them…

"...Why am I doing this?" he stared blankly at the page. "This is ridiculous, isn't it?"

This whole situation was the epitome of absurd. 

"Alright," he muttered, closing the notebook and setting it aside. "Start small. Work my way up. Don't die too much."

He stood up, his mind racing as he tried to formulate a plan. If he wanted to train, he had no choice but to test it first.

But his gut almost twisted on itself at the thought. 

"I'm scared…" he let out a shaky breath, his body struggling to calm down. Even after everything he'd just said to Vinum, after the whole situation, after fighting so many things… he was scared.

After all, could anyone blame him? His sexual experience was zero. He'd spent his life avoiding this kind of thing, and now he was supposed to face it head-on? It felt like a cruel twist of fate.

He swallowed hard, gripping the edges of his desk. His fingers were cold, damp with sweat.

"Breathe," he told himself. "Just breathe."

Easier said than done. 

I don't want to do this…

He was afraid of dying, he was afraid of being close to them. It was not because he hated them, but now that the feeling of protection was no longer there, were they even happy to be here? 

Did they even like him? 

WHY DO I SUDDENLY CARE IF THEY LIKE ME? He almost screamed. Ever since that stupid succubus removed that mark, I can't stop thinking about sex! I swear, I wanted to grab Vinum and hug her. HUG her. What the fuck is wrong with me?

This isn't me.

He wasn't the kind of guy who worried about this stuff. He wasn't supposed to care. But now?

Now, he was sitting here, drenched in his own nerves, second-guessing everything. He pushed himself back from the desk, pacing in restless circles. His body was heating up second after second, the memory of Vinum pressing down on him flooding his mind.

"Shit… I'm already getting all worked up for no reason…" 

 It wasn't that he didn't like sex. In fact, right now, he wanted nothing more than to jump into Alma Elma's arms and let her take control. But the thing was… he felt pathetic. Discouraged. Did he even have the slightest chance of succeeding? It felt impossible after what he went through with Vinum.

Where did his confidence go? Why can't he just go downstairs and talk to them normally, like always? 

To him, they were his friends, weren't they? 

"First off: A shower to cool off," he declared, as if the act of speaking aloud would make it more real.

Didn't you already take one? his brain reminded him.

"YES, BUT I NEED TO CALM DOWN!" he shouted back at himself, his voice echoing in the empty room.

He paused for a second.

"Yeah, I really need it…" he sighed, before making his way toward the bathroom.