Succumania

"Scrub harder, you fools!" Luka's voice thundered through the house, echoing with righteous authority. The succubi groaned in frustration but dared not slow their pace as the evening approached.

Eva, crouched on the ground with a scowl, angrily scrubbed the wooden floor, muttering curses under her breath. Lilith, meanwhile, hung laundry on a makeshift clothesline, sighing dramatically with every garment she pinned up. Out in the garden, Morrigan, grumbling louder than anyone, clawed at the dirt with her bare hands, the imps gleefully assisting by throwing clumps of soil in random directions rather than actually helping.

While most were struggling with their assigned tasks, Alma Elma, of all people, seemed to be enjoying herself. She dusted the furniture with a smile, wearing a white apron that contrasted sharply with her usual seductive demeanor. Humming a lighthearted tune, she twirled between the tables and shelves, her wings fluttering slightly as she worked.

Luka, noticing this, stomped over with an exasperated glare, arms crossed. "You do realize this is supposed to be your punishment, right?" His brow twitched as he watched her cheerfully flick a feather duster over the bookshelf.

Alma Elma turned to him with a teasing smile, her eyes gleaming. "Oh, but Luka… you'll have to give me another kind of punishment…♪" She licked her lips and winked playfully.

Luka felt a vein pop on his forehead. "That's it, I'm doubling your workload."

"Oh no," she deadpanned, her expression completely unfazed.

Luka groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I should've known this wouldn't work on you."

As if to prove his point, Alma Elma twirled the feather duster like a baton before swiping it playfully across his nose. "I already told you I'm sorry for writing on your face with that marker. I didn't know it was a permanent one."

"I had to scrub it off at Nina's place!" Luka snapped. "And don't act innocent—you also tried to strip me in front of everyone."

"I also apologized for that…♪" she sang, grinning.

Luka's eye twitched. "You all apologized!" He turned sharply, directing his wrath at the other troublemaker. "But that doesn't mean I shouldn't hand out punishments. Right, Eva?" His glare landed on the miserable succubus on all fours, furiously scrubbing the wooden floor.

Eva, her arms trembling from exhaustion, shot him a teary-eyed look. "M-My back hurts! Can't I just use the vacuum cleaner?" she pleaded.

"No!" Luka barked.

"But—But—" she stammered, her bottom lip quivering as she tried to muster some pity.

Luka exhaled sharply before bringing his fist down toward her head. Eva shrieked in terror, but at the last second, Luka held back, only lightly knocking her on the skull. "I said no, you useless succubus! Next time you pull a stunt like that, I'm cooking you for dinner with a side of potatoes!"

"Eek!" Eva clutched her head, whimpering.

Lilith sighed from where she was folding freshly dried clothes. "You sure have a way with words, Luka. Threatening to eat one of us like some barbarian."

"Are we even edible?" Rami piped up, entering the room while dusting off her hands.

"I'm about to find out!" Luka snapped, pointing aggressively at Eva, who shrank under his glare.

Alma Elma tilted her head, pondering. "You'd probably get food poisoning with her."

"Or turn into an idiot," Lilith added.

"Or worse," the succubus mayor chimed in from the kitchen. "You might start hating potatoes just like her."

Luka groaned, running a hand down his face. "Why am I even having this conversation?"

Alma Elma grinned and leaned closer. "You can taste succubi another way if you want. My offer still stands, you kn—"

Luka immediately shoved her back. "Don't even start."

Before Alma Elma could tease him further, a tremor rattled the house, causing a few objects to shift on the shelves.

Everyone froze.

A deep, rumbling boom echoed from outside, shaking the floor beneath them.

Vinum's voice echoed in the house. "Just a failed experiment! I tossed it outside!"

"Failed experiment?" Luka's eyes widened in alarm before he bolted toward the staircase. "What the hell are you doing up here, you damn lolibaba?!"

The moment he reached the upper floor, a second, louder explosion rocked the house. Luka stumbled, barely catching himself on the railing.

"What did you do this time?!" he shouted, bursting into Vinum's workshop. The room was filled with smoke, the scent of burning chemicals thick in the air.

Vinum, standing in the middle of the room adjusted her hair nonchalantly. "Calm down. It was just a small magical reaction. Nothing to panic about."

"What kind of magical bullshit are you doing in MY house?!"

Vinum shot him a flat look. "I'm trying to get back to my world." She crossed her arms, sighing as if he was the unreasonable one here. "I seem to be the only one actually trying."

Before Luka could yell at her, Morrigan's voice rang out from downstairs. "Uh, guys? You might wanna come take a look at this."

I'm gonna lose it.

"WHAT NOW?" Luka shot Vinum a warning glare before stomping back down the stairs. As soon as they stepped outside, Luka stopped dead in his tracks. 

The backyard fence lay in splinters, torn apart like it was made of paper. Standing in the wreckage was a towering figure—a monstrous fusion of woman and beast. Its muscular lion's body prowled forward with unsettling grace, sharp claws sinking into the dirt. A human-like torso emerged from its back, framed by wild crimson hair and predatory golden eyes. Most alarming of all was the segmented, venomous scorpion tail curling behind her, dripping with a thick, ominous fluid.

"A… manticore?" Luka muttered, instinctively taking a step back as the creature fixed him with a slow, hungry grin.

From the window above, Vinum let out a long sigh, leaning lazily against the frame. "Oh, that's where she ended up. I was wondering what that pocket dimension contained."

Luka whipped around, his expression livid. "YOU—ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"

Before he could finish, the manticore lunged.

Luka barely managed to duck, the wind of her massive paw swiping over his head as he scrambled backward. The beast let out a delighted chuckle, her golden eyes gleaming. 

Luka shot a glare up at the window. "GET IT BACK INSIDE, YOU DAMN LOLIBABA!"

Vinum tilted her head, watching the spectacle. "I could, but she seems lively now. Might be a waste not to study her behavior."

"STUDY MY ASS—SHE'S TRYING TO EAT ME!" Luka barked as he dodged another swipe, barely avoiding the venomous stinger that struck the ground beside him. The impact left a smoking crater, the grass sizzling from whatever toxin dripped from the tip.

"Good grief…" the little succubus sighed before snapping her fingers, stopping effectively the creature in its tracks. She then dropped down and held a small ball in her hand toward the manticore. In a flash, the massive creature disappeared, leaving Luka heaving for air.

"Thank… you…" he wheezed, still trying to process that he was, in fact, not about to be eaten alive.

Vinum dusted off her dress, not even looking at him. "You could have just used magic, you know."

Luka shot her a look that could kill. "I. CAN'T. USE. MAGIC. And I had to take off my talismans to wash myself!"

"Hmm. Unfortunate," she mused before turning on her heel and floating lazily back toward the house.

The succubi, who had been spectating from the doorway, finally broke into motion.

Morrigan clapped her hands together. "Good job little guy! You managed to survive!"

Lilith chuckled, smirking. "It was amusing watching you run around like a scared little rabbit."

Luka's eye twitched dangerously, and in an instant, the teasing stopped. The group went silent as he shot them a death glare, his patience worn paper-thin.

With a heavy sigh, he dusted off his shirt and stormed past them, stepping back into the house without another word.

"I'm going outside for some fresh air," he muttered. "Try not to destroy anything else while I'm gone."

No one dared to respond as he grabbed his coat and pushed the front door open. 

The succubi stared at each other, uncertain, before going back to work.

"Finally, he is gone!" Eva stood up with a grin. "Now I can go back to my business and—"

"Get back to work," Alma Elma grabbed her shoulder from behind and flashed her a carnivorous smile.

Eva stiffened. "Y-Yes, ma'am!" she squeaked, instantly dropping to the floor and scrubbing the wooden boards frantically as if her life depended on it.

This house is going to be the death of me.

Luka sighed, shoving his hands into his coat pockets as he strolled down the quiet neighborhood road. His muscles were still tense from earlier, the residual adrenaline refusing to fade completely.

It was impossible to relax in that house.

When he was taking his bath, he could feel the presence of someone behind the door and hear the flapping noise of another outside to catch a glimpse through the window. 

"They really need to get their own damn guys…" he muttered under his breath, raking a hand through his hair. Maybe stopping Morrigan from running the Lilith Bros was a mistake. At this rate, he was starting to seriously consider calling them back to take her off his hands. But he also had another idea in mind. For now, he would settle for getting a look at that house again.

As he walked, the streets gradually became quieter. The further he got from his chaotic home, the more the tension in his body finally started to ease.

But just as he rounded a corner, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up.

That presence again.

Luka stopped mid-step, his senses sharpening.

It was subtle, but he wasn't alone.

He didn't move immediately, instead tilting his head slightly, as if casually stretching his neck.

But nothing was there. 

"Heya!"

A cheerful voice suddenly exploded behind him.

Luka's entire body jerked, instincts kicking in before his brain could register. He spun and lashed out—his palm smacking hard against someone's face.

"Ow! Hey, that hurts!" the girl yelped, stumbling back and rubbing her cheek.

Luka blinked. Then blinked again.

Standing before him, pouting and teary-eyed, was a familiar succubus.

Blood-red jacket. Turtleneck sweater. A small bag slung over her shoulder.

"…Succubus-chan?" he muttered. "What the hell are you doing here?" Luka took a cautious step back, narrowing his eyes.

Succubus-chan rubbed her face dramatically. "Geez! That's how you greet a lady? I just wanted to say hi!" She puffed out her cheeks.

"Don't you see I want to be alone?" Luka sighed with an annoyed expression. 

Succubus-chan, however, either didn't notice or just didn't care. She beamed, completely unfazed, and without warning, latched onto his arm.

"Well, then~!" she grinned, showing a fanged smile. "Let's relax together!"

Luka stiffened. "What—hey, let go!"

She ignored him, hugging his arm tighter. "I can tell you're stressed. How about we go on a date, just you and me?"

Luka stared at her like she'd just suggested jumping into a volcano.

"A date?" he repeated, voice dry.

"Mhm!" She nodded eagerly. "You've been through a lot, right? And what better way to unwind than with some good company?" She leaned in, giving him an all-too-innocent smile. "Come oooon~ just a little fun?"

Luka pried her off and stepped back. "Yeah, no thanks. I'd rather deal with a multiversal crisis once more than that."

Succubus-chan gasped, clutching her chest dramatically. "Wow. That's hurtful, Luka. Is that what you think of me?"

"Yes."

Her pout deepened.

He sighed, already regretting engaging in this conversation. "Look, it's already late. I don't have time for—"

Before he could finish, Succubus-chan's playful expression faded. Her demeanor shifted—not into something menacing, but something eerily calculating.

"You know," she mused, voice lower now, more thoughtful. "I was wondering why you weren't eaten yet."

Luka frowned at her sudden change in tone.

She tilted her head. "I even asked the others… Is it true you can't feel pleasure at all?"

Luka's frown deepened, but he didn't stop walking. Instead, he sighed again and picked up the pace.

Succubus-chan kept stride effortlessly, grinning as if they were just chatting about the weather.

"What?" Luka scoffed. "So now you think you can fix me or something?" His tone was dry, unimpressed. "So that you can eat me later? What's the point?"

Succubus-chan chuckled, twirling a lock of her hair between her fingers. "I mean… aren't you curious?"

Luka shot her a side glance, exasperated. "Not even remotely."

"Liar~," she chuckled. "Alma Elma told me you had a lot of spicy stuff on your old computer."

Luka's step faltered just a little. His eyes twitched, but he kept walking. "And that has nothing to do with the current me," he shot back, pointing a finger at her.

Succubus-chan grinned wider. "Does that mean you know why you can't feel pleasure?"

Luka stopped in his tracks.

Succubus-chan stopped too, her smile never wavering.

Then, Luka exhaled through his nose, turning back around. "Not interested in playing twenty questions with a succubus tonight."

Succubus-chan's grin only grew as she easily kept pace beside him.

"Oh, Luka-kun~," she purred. "You say that, but you still haven't told me I'm wrong." Before he could shake her off, she latched onto his arm again, pressing close with a giggle. "So, how about that date, hm? We'll have fun!"

Luka groaned, trying to pull free, but she clung on like a particularly persistent leech. "You do realize that I said you were my favorite just to get you into trouble, right?"

Succubus-chan hummed, pretending to think. "Mmm… Is that so?"

"This is why I hate going outside…"

"Hey, you should be grateful!" she pouted. "Most men would kill to have a beautiful succubus offer them a night of fun~"

"I feel like most of them would die too."

"You're not wrong!" she tugged on him, putting him on the road to the city center. 

As they walked deeper into the city, Luka's wariness only grew. Succubus-chan was up to something—he could feel it. And if experience had taught him anything, it was that nothing good ever came from letting a succubus take the lead.

After all, the last time he did, he ended up killing them all after she had done something stupid.

And yet, he followed. 

Succubus-chan happily clung to his arm, humming to herself as they passed through the bustling streets. They weren't headed anywhere in particular—just meandering, window shopping. The neon glow of the city reflected off the glass storefronts, painting the streets in flickering shades of blue, red, and violet.

Luka barely paid attention to the shops, but Succubus-chan seemed utterly fascinated. She pointed at dresses, shoes, sweets—anything that caught her eye, commenting on it all as if she wasn't literally a creature of the underworld.

"Luka, Luka, look! This would look so cute on me, don't you think?" She gestured toward a boutique display, eyes shining.

Luka followed her gaze. A mannequin posed in the window, dressed in something lacey and elegant—more suited for royalty than someone like her.

He sighed. "You don't even wear dresses."

"I could," she said, grinning. "If you bought me one~"

"No."

"Boo, you're no fun."

She stuck to him like glue, refusing to let go, and Luka couldn't help but feel like he was dragging around a particularly chatty parasite. Which, in some ways, wasn't inaccurate.

Succubi were parasites to humans, after all.

They couldn't live without them. They fed off them, thrived off them. And, for the most part, they did so in secret—hidden from the world, preying on whoever caught their eye.

It was only natural.

That was why it was so strange that most of them weren't leaving him. Why were they so obsessed with figuring out why he was different?

"Hey!" Succubus-chan suddenly gasped, pointing excitedly ahead. "How about we go to this fancy restaurant?"

Luka followed her gaze, his stomach sinking.

A grand establishment loomed before them, all polished marble and gold accents. A crimson carpet stretched over the entrance, leading to an impeccably dressed man stationed outside, greeting guests with a courteous nod.

"That place looks expensive," Luka muttered.

Succubus-chan beamed. "Yup! That's what makes it perfect!"

Luka grimaced. "That place is gonna cost me an arm…" He hesitated, eyeing her warily. "… And I'm pretty sure you'd take it with you if you had the chance."

She giggled, tugging at his sleeve. "I can find enough money from a guy if you want—" she began scanning the surroundings, her gaze dropping onto an old man entering the restaurant.

"No stealing," Luka knocked her on the head. "But fine, if you repay me later I'm willing to eat there."

Succubus-chan winced and blinked. "What?"

The young man approached the waiter with the succubus in hand and smiled at him. "Is it possible to have a table for two?"

"Of course," the waiter smiled in return. "Please follow me."

The waiter led them inside, and the moment they stepped through the doors, Luka felt out of place. The restaurant oozed wealth—chandeliers cast a warm glow over the immaculate dining hall, and each table was adorned with fine china and expensive silverware. A pianist played soft music in the background, completing the air of sophistication.

"Ooooh, fancy~" Succubu-chan was taking in the sight with a childish expression. "It reeks of wealth in here."

The waiter guided them to a candlelit table near the window, offering a perfect view of the city skyline. It was ornated with a flower bouquet and a red table mat. "Your server will be with you shortly. Please, enjoy your evening."

As soon as he walked away, Luka installed himself on the chair with a relaxed sigh.

Succubus-chan gracefully took her seat, her handbag slipping to the floor with a soft thud. She flashed him a teasing smile. "Are you sure you'll be able to pay here?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Luka leaned back, propping his chin on his hand. "Probably," he replied, sounding far too nonchalant for the situation. "I've got plenty of money. Got a gold reward from a queen once."

Succubus-chan raised an eyebrow, smirking. "A reward from a queen, huh? Sounds like a fun story."

Luka exhaled, already regretting mentioning it. "It's not."

Before she could press further, a waiter arrived with menus, placing them on the table with practiced grace. "Please, take your time," he said with a polite smile. "May I bring you something to drink while you decide?"

"Water," Luka said immediately, his usual preference.

Succubus-chan hummed thoughtfully, tapping her finger against her lips as her eyes darted over the drink menu. "Ooh, what's the fanciest drink you have?"

The waiter, never losing his composure, replied smoothly, "Our house specialty is Louis Roederer Champagne, Brut."

Succubus-chan's face lit up. "I'll take a bottle."

The waiter bowed politely before turning to Luka for confirmation.

Luka sighed, rubbing his temple. "Fine, bring us a bottle."

The waiter gave a short bow. "Of course," he said with a smile, before smoothly departing.

Succubus-chan chuckled, looking at Luka like he'd just surprised her. "Wow, I didn't think you'd actually say yes."

"I'm just curious to see if you're going to get drunk at this point."

She shifted in her seat, her expression suddenly a little more serious. "By the way…" She fiddled with her hair, eyes darting around as if unsure how to continue. "When you said I would pay you back… you meant…?" She trailed off, her voice softening with curiosity.

"Not in money, don't worry," he answered with a smirk.

If it had been any other guy, she would have been thrilled but now she was just not feeling it. "What do you mean by that?"

Luka simply shrugged, wearing a bored expression as he opened the menu. "I've got an errand to run after this. You'll have to fly me there."

"Ah?" she blinked, thrown off by the sudden shift.

Luka barely glanced up, his attention already fixed on the menu. "You'll find out soon enough."

Succubus-chan stared at Luka, her mouth slightly agape as she processed his words. "Wait, wait, wait," she said, leaning forward across the table. "You're telling me I have to fly you somewhere? Like, carry you through the air? Do you even know how heavy you are?"

Luka didn't look up from the menu, his tone casual. "You're a succubus. You've got wings. Figure it out."

"F-Fine. Geez, you really are bold, you know that?"

"You're the one who dragged me here," Luka replied, finally glancing up at her with a raised eyebrow. "It's only natural that you work a little bit after that."

"You're no fun, you know that?" she sighed, her sharp nails tapping against the table. "I thought we were having a nice date."

"This isn't a date," Luka said flatly, returning his attention to the menu. "This is you being a nuisance, and me humoring you because I'm too tired to argue."

She gasped, placing a hand over her heart as if he'd just stabbed her. "You wound me, Luka. Truly. I thought we had something special."

"We don't."

"Ouch. Harsh."

Before she could continue her theatrics, the waiter returned with their bottle of champagne, expertly uncorking it and pouring two glasses. He placed one in front of each of them, giving a polite nod before retreating.

Succubus-chan immediately grabbed her glass, taking a long sip before sighing contentedly. "Yeah, that's good. I don't know much about champagne, but it's tasty." She glanced at Luka, who hadn't touched his glass. "Aren't you going to drink?"

"I'm not a fan of alcohol," Luka said, pushing the glass aside. 

She smirked, leaning closer. "Oh, come on. Live a little. You're always so serious. When was the last time you actually had fun?"

Luka paused for a moment, his eyes briefly drifting to the window as if searching for an answer. The lights of the city sparkled in the distance, but his mind wasn't on the view. "The last time I had fun… Was…"

When was it, actually? He never really considered it, but did beating up Vinum count as fun?

"Yeah, that tracks," Succubus-chan cut him off with an enigmatic smile. "You have that stench on you."

Luka frowned. "Stench?"

"You know why I insisted on coming to your home?" she asked, swirling her champagne.

"You just followed everyone," Luka replied flatly.

"I—I mean why I specifically wanted to stay there," she corrected, suddenly looking a little flustered.

"No, but I can tell it's for a stupid reason like I'm tasty or something," Luka deadpanned.

Succubus-chan huffed. "It's not just that! I mean… okay, yeah, that's part of it, but there's more." She leaned in, lowering her voice. "You feel different from other humans. And I got curious."

Luka raised an eyebrow. "Weird how?"

She studied him for a moment, as if debating how much to say. Finally, she tapped a finger against the rim of her glass. "You don't react to us the way most people do. Yet you're still a virgin," she tapped her nose, "I can tell. That makes you both interesting and dangerous."

"Dangerous?"

"For us." Her smirk returned, but this time, there was a sharper edge to it. "I think a lot of succubi are trying to figure out if you're something they should be scared of."

"I don't think you all are scared of me. In fact, you're a bit too comfortable."

"And are you scared of me?" the succubus asked in return with a smile.

He met her gaze with a cool look. "Why should I be scared of you?"

Her smile widened. "I ate a lot of guys you know~," she said, the words slipping out with a seductive undertone.

"Yeah, I'm sure you have," Luka replied casually, as though unaffected, picking up the menu again. "Oh, this one looks good."

"Did you just—"

"I heard you," Luka interrupted, his eyes scanning the menu without any sign of panic. "Probably Alma Elma, too. Astaroth, Lilith, Morrigan, maybe even that dumbass Eva. All of you have probably left a trail of bodies behind you, and honestly, it wouldn't surprise me. Hell, even the nice and caring mayor might have some skeletons in her closet." He glanced at her with a raised eyebrow, almost amused. "The imps, though..." He shook his head, the corner of his mouth twitching into a frown. "Nah, I can't believe these little devils are capable of killing."

Succubus-chan blinked, her earlier playful demeanor faltering for a moment. She was silent for a beat before leaning back, studying Luka more carefully. His cool indifference seemed to unnerve her in a way she hadn't expected. Her sharp gaze flickered over him as if trying to read him, but the man sitting across from her remained as unreadable as ever.

"You don't even flinch," she muttered under her breath, her voice almost questioning.

Luka's eyes flickered up at her, a hint of amusement tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Flinch at what?"

"You don't care? I mean, not that I mind too much but…"

"Never said I didn't," he replied, turning his attention back to the menu. "It's just… Your existence is something I cannot deny and fight anyway."

"Huh?"

Eventually, the waiter returned, breaking the conversation with a soft clearing of his throat.

"Are you ready to order, sir?" the waiter asked, looking between them with an almost polite detachment.

Luka glanced up, his face slipping back into its neutral expression. "I'll have the steak. Rare. And the potatoes on the side."

Succubus-chan hadn't broken eye contact with him during the entire exchange, but when the waiter turned to her, she quickly recovered, offering a smile that was just the right amount of sultry. "I'll have the same," she said, voice lilting with amusement.

The waiter nodded and left, and as the sound of his retreating footsteps faded, the air between them shifted again.

"So, you think it's useless to fight us?" Succubus-chan asked after a pause. "I'm glad that you're nice like that," she smiled brightly.

"You'll see what I mean later," he sighed. "I just…"

"Don't you think that's boring?" she finally asked, her smile disappearing. "You're human, no? You know we exist and yet you do nothing and spare us. Not that you could kill us but…"

Luka's eyes finally met hers, a deep, almost weary look in them. "I already had this conversation with someone before," he murmured, leaning back in his chair. "Trust me, my it's much more complicated than you think."

Succubus-chan sighed, slumping a little in her chair, looking entirely unamused. "You're really not as fun as I thought you'd be…"

"You're the one who took me on this date, what did you expect?" he deadpanned.

She rolled her eyes, almost theatrically. "I expected an innocent virgin in a harem setting, surrounded by beautiful girls, where I could swoop in and take him for myself." She slumped even further, the playful glint in her eyes dimming. "Could've been fun…"

"Yeah, it's more like a sitcom now…" he chuckled. "Or a stupid romcom."

She groaned, throwing her head back as she rolled her eyes again. "Why must you be such a buzzkill? I hate mysterious types like you."

"You prefer innocent ones?" 

"Yup!" she said, flashing a fanged grin.

"Well, you're a few years too late," Luka chuckled, leaning back with a smirk. "Back then, I might've thrown myself in your arms."

"Really~?" She leaned in, intrigued, her earlier mood momentarily forgotten.

"Anyway, right now you're stuck with me until I send you back home."

"You know, this world is very similar to my home," she explained, her eyes scanning the room. "Except if there are detectives like you… Yeah, I might have had to lay low even more."

"If you weren't caught then it's probably you were doing it right."

"Of course, I'm not stupid," she replied with a wink, leaning back. "Though don't say that it's creepy. Even to me."

After a while, their meals arrived, and they settled into a comfortable silence, occasionally breaking it with casual jabs or teasing comments. The atmosphere had shifted—still playful, but with a subtle, more relaxed rhythm between them. The clink of cutlery against plates provided a soothing backdrop to their back-and-forth.

By the time they finished and stepped outside, the night had deepened. The air was cold, sharp, and biting, sending an invigorating chill through their bones. The streets were nearly deserted, save for a few couples lingering near a fountain under the soft light of the street lamps.

"So, ready to fly me there?" Luka asked with a grin.

"Oh, right. Can't we do this another day?" 

"Nope, right now," he replied with a firm nod.

The succubus gave a resigned sigh, rubbing the back of her neck. "Ugh, fine." She wrapped her hands around his waist and revealed her wings and tail before taking up flight. Luka pulled out a talisman from his coat and quickly activated it, creating a form of barrier around them that melted in the night sky.

"So, where am I supposed to take you?" Succubus-chan asked while holding him close.

"Go right there," he pointed up north. "I'll tell you when we've arrived."

"Okay~!" she chirped, her voice light and playful as they flew off into the night.

After a thirty minutes of flight, the young man pointed down and with what sounded like a resigned sigh, said: "It's here. Drop us down."

Succubus-chan nodded firmly, her wings shifting as she adjusted her flight path. They descended smoothly, touching down lightly on a small patch of grass next to a simple house. The house was situated in a quiet suburban area, far from the city's bustle. The lights inside flickered, and shadows moved behind the windows, indicating life within.

"So… What are we doing here?" she asked with a tilt of her head. "My wings are sore."

But the young man stayed quiet and simply walked forward, the camouflage spell still around him. After stepping right in front of the window, he looked inside, a smile playing on his lips.

"Good, they're fine."

Succubus-chan glanced between Luka and the house, her curiosity growing. She hovered just behind him, watching as he stood there with that subtle smile. "So, what's the deal with this place? You're acting like you're watching a show or something."

Luka's eyes remained fixed on the window, his posture relaxed yet focused. "It's not a show," he murmured, his voice lower, almost contemplative. "I'm just making sure things are...okay."

She looked through the window and beamed up. "Oh that guy looks deli—" but she immediately received a hit to the head. "Ow, ow, I'm joking!"

However this time.

He was looking right at her, his eyes bloodshot. "You even touch or approach him, you're dead."

"Geez, Luka…" she muttered, rubbing the top of her head where he'd lightly struck her. "No need to get so serious."

But his eyes didn't soften, still bloodshot and cold. He took a step closer to the window, leaning forward slightly, his posture rigid, as if he were trying to get a better look at something inside.

"You're not kidding, are you?" Succubus-chan's voice was quieter now, laced with genuine curiosity.

Luka shook his head slowly, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Not even a little. I don't care if you've killed people or if you are a human-eating devil. I don't care about what you think about me. But…"

He stared right at her, his expression serious. "If you even dare to hurt his life in any shape or form, death will be the first thing you want from me."

Succubus-chan froze, her wings pausing mid-flutter. The seriousness in Luka's voice hit her like a wall, knocking all traces of humor out of the air. She met his gaze, eyes wide, and for the first time, she felt a prickling unease. Luka's words weren't a playful

threat or some passing joke—there was genuine danger in them.

For a moment, she considered cracking a joke to lighten the mood, but the tension in his posture, the coldness in his eyes, made it impossible.

"I don't know what kind of person you think I am, but I don't take threats lightly," she said, her voice quieter now, laced with something far more serious than before. "And I don't take kindly to being told what I can or can't do."

"No, you don't. But I know who you are. You're a succubus, a dream. You're not bound by any shackle like we are. You trick men into having sex with you, you revel in seeing them succumb to their own desires and take profit from it."

"What's so special about this guy? Why does he get you so worked up?"

"He's the reason why I'm still doing this stupid detective job and putting up with all of you. It's normal people like him that shouldn't be bothered by all this magic bullshit, these supernatural phenomena that rob people of their lives and put them into hell."

"You really care about him, don't you?" she said quietly, her voice softer now, almost hesitant.

"Yeah. He's my best friend from before all of this. Now, I'm officially dead, that's also why I have a fake family name… And since every normal person I get along with either ends up dead or hurt, I prefer to watch from afar."

"Alright, alright. I get it. No touching the guy. Got it."

"Also he is married and has a kid."

"That's too bad~" she giggled.

Luka sighed, his shoulders relaxing. "Anyway, you can go home now. I've got one last thing to handle."

"So that's the end of our date?" she asked, her wings beginning to spread as she prepared to take off.

Luka gave her a deadpan look, shaking his head. "Yup. The priciest date I've ever had. Seriously, forty bucks a glass of champagne…" He chuckled softly at the absurdity of it all.

She rolled her eyes with a smirk. "Alright, I'm going then." She started to float into the air, wings catching the night breeze.

But just as she was about to take off, Luka called after her. "Before you go," he said, his voice stopping her in her tracks. Succubus-chan turned around, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. "One more thing."

"Huh? What is it?"

Luka's eyes softened just a little, a rare flicker of something almost warm passing through his gaze. "Thanks for the date."

Succubus-chan stared at him for a moment, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. Then, with a smirk that made her look more mischievous than ever, she winked. "You're welcome. Don't miss me too much."

And with that, she took off into the night, leaving Luka standing there with a small, quiet smile as he watched her disappear into the dark sky.

"Now that that's taken care of…" he muttered to himself, taking a last long look at the window before walking away. "What's the deal with her?"

Why did he thank her for the date? Even he couldn't really put a finger on it. But he just felt like it. 

Even if she was just a demon, he knew that sometimes they could show genuine care toward others. Surely, she just wanted something out of it, entertainment, or even a possible end with him in her embrace.

But he couldn't care less. Surprisingly, it was still his first date. Even if it was dumb and disingenuous, it would've felt strange not to thank her.

"Maybe I need to get more relaxed around them…" he muttered under his breath as his footsteps echoed through the empty streets.

After a while, as the day lingered in his thoughts, he found himself walking toward a metal gate, his boots crunching against the gravel of a cemetery.

It hit him earlier—after everything that had happened, he'd barely noticed the date. Hell, he might've missed it completely if Eva hadn't been hurt to stop the spell.

He stopped in front of a tomb, the wind tugging at his coat, making the evening chill seep deeper into his bones. Even though he wasn't used to coming here, he felt like he needed it. 

The portal crisis, the damn devils staying at his house, all of this might've been something he wished for a long time ago. The kind of fun only someone surrounded by rowdy people could have.

His journey in Tamia was nothing like that. 

"What should I do…" he muttered, a thin smile on his lips as he stared at the tombstone. There was no way to send them back home—not yet, at least. And who knew how long he could keep them under control before they started looking for their next meal or causing trouble again?

His hand reached inside his inner pocket. In his jacket, having a subspace in which he could store a nearly limitless amount of objects, he pulled out a flower bouquet that he took—well, stole from the restaurant. He knelt down beside the tombstone, the gravel crunching under his knees as he carefully placed the flowers in front of it.

Those people were also why he was still fighting. So that no one would end up getting caught up in events caused by monsters.

For people like the ones marked on the grave, killed for no reason, he would keep going and deal with this problem.

"Hi Mom, Dad. And happy birthday, Dad."

Because this is what life is, to always look onward.