134 – Stronger Than Allure

A famous episode from the past.

A true story adapted into a film and book in Tigrova.

A day when succubi poured forth from a dimensional rift.

The tale of a man who, resisting the succubi’s allure, awakened only by the kiss of a woman he bickered with daily, a woman considered his arch-nemesis.

They survived the hardship forged by the rift, confirmed their feelings for one another, and are now husband and wife.

To forget the gruesome tragedy born from the dimensional rift, the citizens ceaselessly repeated that story, overflowing with hope and sweetness.

The incident became a widely popular piece of lore amongst stories concerning dimensional rifts.

As this tale spread, many people attempted similar actions on those affected by succubi appearing from rifts, but the actual success rate was remarkably low.

Only the successful anecdote was known, making it seem like a viable method of dealing with the situation.

Ichinose Yui, a clever girl, was aware of the low probability, almost non-existent.

Furthermore, the succubus she faced was abnormally strong, making the act of challenging it foolish.

Yet, this method was the first to pop into her head, because…

Ichinose felt a connection to Rohan, so much so, that she would call it fate.

“I-If you don’t wake up with this, I’m really going to cut you down!”

Ichinose pulled Rohan close and pressed her lips to his.

The girl’s first kiss was not romantic, filled only with urgency and desperation, but if this action woke Rohan, it might become a new memory to cherish.

“Haha! You think such childish nonsense will work?”

Olivia burst into laughter at the sight of Ichinose.

Each laugh sent a searing pain through her ruptured abdomen, but she couldn’t help herself.

Surely, the most she could expect from someone guarding themselves against her was a childish kiss.

Did she read too many fairy tales?

Olivia prided herself on the fact that the dense, viscous allure she had crafted would never be defeated by such childish play.

She was, after all, the leader ruling over the succubi’s den.

“Little girl. The men who fall for my allure, without exception… Huh?”

Olivia’s eyes widened.

The pink magic that had been boiling within Rohan’s body was subsiding.

…

…

Rohan was disoriented even as consciousness returned.

‘A dream? Or is this also an allure…?’

The unpleasant, sticky things that had bored into my mind, trying to consume it, were gone.

Whether their attempts to force a saccharine sweetness had disappeared because I was completely consumed, or because I had finally overcome them, I couldn’t tell.

[Heroines Only Looking at You – Achievement Unlocked]

[As an Achievement Reward, the Mana Consumption of Unique Skills is Reduced When You’re with a Heroine.]

[When a Heroine is With Rohan, They Gain Resistance to Status Ailments]

Beyond the notifications that surfaced.

I saw a girl, her eyes tightly shut, her lips pressed together, trembling.

The soft sensation against my lips conveyed a certain bliss.

‘Ah.’

Rohan finally comprehended.

Ichinose had pulled him from the depths of allure, using a very special method.

Rohan gripped Ichinose’s waist tightly.

“…!”

Watching the girl’s eyes snap open, Rohan reluctantly broke the kiss.

At the same time, he leaped to the side.

*KWAANG!*

Olivia’s whip landed where the two of them had been standing, cleaving through the flagstones.

Confirming the face of Olivia, who had attempted a surprise attack, Rohan read a variety of emotions.

The succubus was filled only with impatience and horror. Having lost her favored arm, her whip lashes were awkward and clumsy.

“Ro…han?”

Ichinose, held in his arms, reached out a hand, tracing Rohan’s face as if she couldn’t believe it.

Rohan accepted the touch, conveying his gratitude.

“Thank you. Let’s finish this.”

Rohan released the hand that had been holding Ichinose.

He picked up the fallen Radiance from the ground. From its holster, he drew out the Brand.

Ichinose watched the display. She did not turn into a pleasure doll.

Rohan’s actions, the same as always. It was dreamlike.

“Okay…!”

Ichinose curved her lips upward at the best possible outcome.

Assisting Rohan’s advance, he charged towards Olivia.

Both understood this was an opportunity they couldn’t afford to squander.

Rohan gripped his weapon tight, ignoring the blossoming wounds.

Ichinose, with a clumsy grace, batted away the snapping whip with his scabbard, clearing Rohan’s path.

“Ugh, damn humans!”

Gone was Olivia’s smugness. The situation was dire.

Forging a new enchantment would completely drain her magic. And whipping to control the charm was impossible now.

Her gut wound was too deep to brute-force her way out with raw strength.

She could only concede ground to Rohan and Ichinose.

Closing in on Olivia, Rohan feigned a sweeping blow, raising his sword high.

Then, he aimed the pistol at the succubus’s thigh, just as she braced to parry the blade with her whip handle.

Psychological warfare was easy against an opponent so openly on the defensive.

Bang! Bang!

He neatly emptied the remaining bullets.

“Kyyyaaak!”

Olivia screamed, the thick flesh of her thigh pierced by the bullets.

He hated such noisy displays.

*Crack!* He struck her temple with the pistol grip.

And plunged the radiantly burning light into her heart.

“Ah, aahh…?”

Perhaps the pain robbed her of voice. Or did she sense her own demise?

Olivia froze, uttering a strangled death cry.

Of course, neither intended to stop.

As Rohan released his grip and stepped back.

*Pshew!*

Ichinose, as if waiting for the cue, lunged forward and severed Olivia’s head.

The dismembered head tumbled to the mansion floor.

“…”

Rohan and Ichinose remained silent, their guard still high.

Victory felt unreal, not yet something to savor.

The instant the signal of Olivia’s life being severed reached Rohan.

The mirrors papering the mansion *crack*! shattered, falling to the floor powerlessly.

Only now could Rohan and Ichinose truly grasp the mansion’s layout.

[Seduction Cutter – Achievement Unlocked]

[Acquired a random point pouch as an achievement reward]

[Exemplar of Impregnable Defenses – Achievement Unlocked]

[Physical Durability Increased as an achievement reward]

‘*That’s* what they meant by “impregnable”…’

Rohan, dumbfounded by the unfamiliar achievement, let out a dry chuckle.

All strength drained from his body, he collapsed onto the floor.

“Hah…”

He needed to find the monolith inside the mansion now, but he had no strength left to move.

Considering that the room with the monolith changed every time he came to the dungeon, he knew he had to move quickly, but.

Without even receiving the Complete Heal reward, his eyes threatened to close.

Afraid he would truly die if he lost consciousness, he shoved a potion into his mouth.

“Rohan! Are you alright?”

Ichinose, with no time to revel in their victory, rushed to his side, a worried expression on her face.

Rohan nodded, desperately clinging to consciousness.

“Monolith… gotta find it.”

“I’ll look for it. Rohan, you rest here.”

“No, let’s go together. The monolith… might just move it.”

Ichinose couldn’t bring herself to say it wouldn’t happen.

Because if it did, Rohan would be left alone.

“I’ll help you up…”

Clinging to the power of the potion, Rohan stumbled to his feet, Ichinose supporting him.

Doors that had been hidden behind the mirrors.

The two of them began to rummage through them, one by one.

“Seems like it’s not here either.”

“Then only the last room remains.”

They searched the rooms, neither of them broaching the subject of the kiss.

Focused solely, it seemed, on finding the monolith.

Perhaps it was Rohan’s own form of respect.

Or maybe he simply lacked the strength to speak of it, given his wretched condition.

And yet.

Ichinose found herself caught in an illogical tangle, wanting to mention it, while simultaneously dreading Rohan mentioning it.

*To be afraid of hearing his thoughts… what a pathetic state to be in, now of all times…*

Ichinose Yui, the girl with that name, was a woman prone to overthinking.

Had urgent matters not been pressing down on her, she would never have engaged in such an impulsive, almost reckless, act.

It was the sheer urgency that had prevented her from truly considering the repercussions of her actions.

*What if the kiss did absolutely nothing…?*

Surely, that would be a devastating blow to a young woman nursing a one-sided love.

Ichinose was the type who preferred blissful ignorance, timid and fragile at heart.

*Did the kiss somehow awaken something in me from mental shock? Or maybe, just maybe, Rohan also…*

The girl couldn’t decide which expression to wear.

She couldn’t even bring herself to meet Rohan’s gaze.

*Thump. Thump. Thump.*

Ichinose, supporting the stumbling Rohan, arrived before the largest door in the mansion.

*Creak!* As the door swung open.

The unique aura emanating from the monolith poured forth, stark and undeniable.

Inside, a jet-black monolith stood before them.

Destroying it would mean their return.

“Ichinose.”

“…Yes.”

Fearful that he might collapse, Ichinose gripped Rohan tightly.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have the strength right now. Could you break it for me?”

“Understood. And before we return…”

“Huh?”

“As Rohan probably knows already, upon returning, he’ll receive treatment and then be subject to an inquiry for information.”

“Right. I know.”

When it came time to actually bring up the next thing, she felt like she could still feel the sensation of his lips.

The girl blushed and gripped the hilt of her sword.

“Wh-when you talk, just the, the necessary parts… You know what I mean…?”

She didn’t wait for any kind of confirmation.

After the one-sided notice was delivered.

She cleaved the monolith.