Succubus World - Start with Incubus System

Three days later.

"Your readings have stabilized. However, for at least the next week, it would be best not to use too much mana."

The Healer set the examination results on the table, then handed Saraya a bag of medicine along with written instructions.

"If you hear strange voices, feel a headache, or notice signs that your mana is becoming unstable, contact the hospital immediately. Lady Meira left specific instructions regarding your case."

"I understand." Saraya took the bag of medicine and slowly stood up.

Over the past three days, she had undergone quite a few examinations. Meira had also come to check the state of her mana, but after confirming that the direct effects of the forbidden technique had been removed, she had only told Saraya to continue resting and watch for unusual symptoms.

Erik had not come.

Saraya had asked the Healer about him once, then did not ask again. She knew he had paid her hospital bills, asked Meira to keep an eye on her condition, and the key to the old apartment was still in her pocket.

He had arranged everything very carefully.

It was just that since that day, he had not sent her another message.

Saraya lowered her head to look at the key in her palm, then put it away and left the hospital room.

Outside, early afternoon sunlight covered the white steps. Silver Moon was as lively as ever, luxurious cars constantly stopping outside the hospital gates as Succubi in business attire hurried out. Some were accompanied by assistants, while others were speaking through communication devices.

Saraya pulled her coat closer and slowly merged into the crowd.

She did not call for a car right away. After spending so many days lying in a hospital room, she wanted to walk for a while, and stop by the central plaza before returning to the apartment.

...

In a private research room on the hospital’s highest floor, Meira and Elowen were still examining the portion of forbidden technique extracted from Saraya’s body.

Inside a transparent orb of energy, a black symbol continuously contracted and expanded. At times, thin strands of mana like tentacles stretched out, attempting to cling to the sealing layer around it.

"Elowen, look here."

Meira gently rotated the orb while using mana to peel apart each layer of the symbol’s structure.

"After removing the forbidden technique, I discovered that there is another very weak source of energy in Saraya’s body. What is strange is that it was already inside her. It does not belong to the mana that was imposed on her from outside."

"Is there anything special about it, Mother?"

"I don’t know yet. But when I compared it with old records, I found that source of energy shares certain traits with the traces of mana in Felyn’s body."

"Felyn?" Elowen looked surprised. "You mean the curse on her?"

"Not exactly." Meira opened two analyses and placed them side by side. "I’m talking about another kind of energy buried very deep inside Felyn’s body, so faint it is almost impossible to detect."

Elowen bent down to examine them. The two records had completely different mana intensities and characteristics, yet certain fluctuations in their deepest layers showed strange similarities.

"But Felyn and Saraya have nothing to do with each other."

"That is what I want to know too."

Meira studied the two records in thought. She remembered how Felyn had once used a forbidden technique to halt the Insect Tide fifty years ago, but there was still no evidence that the incident was directly connected to the energy source they were researching.

After thinking for a while, Meira stood and took down an old file with the Silver Moon emblem on its cover.

"Elowen, have you ever heard of Sentinels?"

Elowen thought for a moment, then nodded.

"I’ve heard of them. They seem to be a title for beings who protected cities long ago, but I don’t know much about them."

"That’s right. In the past, every city had its own Sentinel, beings who possessed special powers to protect the inhabitants and maintain balance. However, as time passed, most of them disappeared."

Elowen looked at the file, then back at the two mana analyses.

"Do you suspect that Felyn and Saraya are connected to the Sentinels?"

"I’ve only considered the possibility." Meira shook her head. "These similarities are not enough to prove anything."

"Then why are you so concerned about them?"

Meira was silent for several seconds, her fingertips slowly turning the yellowed pages. She had studied countless bloodlines and talents during the Gen.0 era, yet the energy source before her gave her the feeling that she was overlooking an extremely important piece of information.

Finally, Meira let out a quiet sigh.

"I don’t know how to explain it yet. But perhaps... I’m about to discover a very big secret."

Elowen was slightly surprised. She rarely saw her mother appear so uncertain in matters of magic.

"Then what should we do?"

"I need more evidence." Meira closed the file. "For now, keep this matter secret. Once I investigate further, I’ll explain it to you and Erik."

Elowen nodded without asking anything more.

...

By the time Saraya reached the central plaza, it was more crowded than usual.

Hundreds of Succubi had gathered around the fountain, most of them looking up at the enormous LED screen on the outside of a high-rise building.

Saraya had intended to walk past, but an excited voice suddenly rang out beside her, making her stop.

"Look! They changed the picture again!"

"Where? Where?"

"Oh my god, that man is so handsome!"

"Wait, isn’t that Sir Erik?"

Hearing that name, Saraya immediately looked up.

On the screen was the image of a young man standing in a spacious kitchen.

He wore a white shirt with the sleeves neatly rolled up and a dark apron over it. One hand rested on the kitchen counter, while the other held a small towel. His tall body leaned naturally against the side of the counter, black hair slightly messy, the corners of his lips lifted in a warm smile.

There were no elaborate clothes or expensive jewelry. Yet with his well-proportioned body and masculine face, he still made many of the surrounding Succubi unable to look away.

Saraya froze.

She recognized that smile.

In the past, whenever she returned home, Erik would often stand in the kitchen in a similar manner. Sometimes he was cooking, while other times he had only just finished washing the dishes. When he heard the door open, he would usually turn around, smile, and ask whether she was tired.

Below the image, large lines of text slowly appeared.

THE ANGEL SUCCUBUS PRESENTS

ERIK’S DAILY LIFE

The daily life of an extraordinary man.

COUNTDOWN TO THE FIRST BROADCAST

Below that was a countdown clock and information about registering for early viewing access, available to invited female customers whose identities had been verified.

"A reality show?" a young Succubus asked.

"You don’t know? The Angel Succubus is preparing to broadcast Sir Erik’s daily life."

"Daily life? What is there to watch?"

The woman who asked was immediately stared at by her friend as though she had said something unbelievable.

"Haven’t you heard the stories about him? They say he even cooks for the Succubi who live with him."

"What? A man cooks for himself?"

"Not only that. I know someone who met Sir Erik at the northern outpost. She said he even took the initiative to hug injured Succubi to comfort them."

"Really?"

"Mhm. Apparently, someone even cried just because he hugged her for five seconds."

The women around them immediately became excited.

In modern society, men were considered precious beings, while Succubi having to care for them and provide resources for them had almost become a matter of course.

A man willing to treat his Partner well was already admirable. Someone who willingly cared for Succubi who did not even have a Contract with him was even rarer.

However, not everyone believed the stories being discussed.

An older woman in a black business dress crossed her arms, looked at the screen, and gave a faint snort.

"I find this rather suspicious. A man who is handsome and gentle, then openly shares his daily life? Perhaps it is all just advertising."

"I think so too." The woman beside her nodded. "What is filmed in front of a camera may not necessarily be real."

"But Sir Erik has not even started broadcasting yet." Another Succubus spoke up. "Besides, many people witnessed him saving Lady Meira at the northern outpost."

The older woman looked slightly surprised.

"That was real?"

"Of course. I heard he nearly got injured because he ran into the battlefield to protect her."

"But shouldn’t men be the ones who are protected?"

"That is why he is so special!"

The discussion quickly shifted to what the program would show, whether the Succubi living with Erik would appear on camera, and how long those who were not on the invited customer list would have to wait before they could register.

Several women even began discussing the price of access.

"The first round is only for the upper class?"

"Mhm. And they have to pay as well."

"Then I have to ask Mother to find a way to register."

"You don’t even know the price yet!"

"No matter how much it costs, I have to watch first!"

Laughter continued to ring out.

Saraya stood in the middle of the crowd, her gaze never leaving the screen.

Erik was still smiling.

In the past, she had viewed the things he did for her as natural. Yet now, countless Succubi were discussing how much money they would have to spend just to see his daily life.

A life she had once possessed for three whole months.

Saraya lowered her head, one hand unconsciously tightening around the edge of her coat.

At that moment, a young Succubus standing near her suddenly sighed.

"I wonder which woman is lucky enough to have Sir Erik cook for her every day?"

"She must be so happy."

Saraya felt her throat tighten.

She had once been cared for by him like that too.

It was only that back then, she had never thought of herself as lucky.

Saraya pulled her collar higher and quietly left the plaza. Behind her, the chatter continued without pause, becoming even livelier when someone mentioned Erik’s engagement to Elowen.

She walked faster, trying not to hear another word.

...

On the rooftop of a high-rise building across from the plaza, a faint figure sat on the railing.

Her slender legs hung over empty air, slowly swinging. The wind blew past, but her hair and the hem of her clothes barely moved.

Below, hundreds of Succubi were still gathered around the advertising screen. No one looked up at her, nor did anyone notice the figure sitting hundreds of meters above them.

She propped her chin on her hand, silently watching Erik’s face on the screen.

After a long time, the corner of her lips slowly curved upward.

"We meet again..."

She tilted her head, her eyes still fixed on the man’s smile in the image.

"...Erik."