Chapter 30

7 SUCCUBUS BOOT CAMP “Wily Lowein.” He was a human soldier once. He was from a farming village, a man who was unusually good with his hands. During the war, he belonged to a construction unit and was involved in all kinds of operations behind the scenes, from blowing up escape routes and defusing traps to setting up camps and building roads and bridges. Although he had participated in battles, he had generally remained in the background and had never cut off the head of any enemy general, for example. Perhaps because of that, the money he ought to have received for his acts in the military amounted to a paltry sum. The village where he was born had long since been turned into a pile of rubble. Though he was good with his hands, he wasn’t particularly friendly, and he often clashed with his superiors, which made it difficult for him to keep a job. Not an unusual situation for an ex-soldier human after the war. Some managed to find work and scrape by, but others left the country searching for work afield, and some others turned to a life of crime. Well, if you can’t find work, what else can you do but turn to crime? Lowein had fallen as low as anyone could go. He became a thief, robbing the houses of people who looked affluent, stealing their valuables and selling them. Still, of all the many criminals who popped up after the war, he was actually a rather successful one. But he was unlucky. Because one day he entered the house of the mistress of an eminent person. And to make it worse, that aforementioned eminent person was in the middle of hanky-panky with said mistress at the time. The eminent person’s bodyguard was a decorated knight, who easily captured Lowein. Normally, if a thief was caught, he would just be thrown in jail for a few months. During that time, at least they wouldn’t have to worry about food and shelter. Prison was the last-ditch refuge of people like Lowein. But Lowein had seen something he shouldn’t have seen. So his situation was different. After a lengthy trial, he was sentenced to death. Lowein was lucky that the death penalty sentence in place involved being sent to succubus country. Being sent to succubus country, to become food. At that moment, Lowein despaired. He’d heard about men who’d been captured by succubi on the battlefield. He’d seen the corpses left behind when he’d been tasked to rebuild a fortress reclaimed from the succubi. The bodies he found piled up in the underground dungeon didn’t look like people. They looked like dried-out pork jerky. The dried-up, mummy-like corpses… The vitality of the succubi… The contrast there had Lowein convinced that there was no creature more terrifying than a succubus. He would die, too, like dried-out meat. The very thought made his head swim with terror. In fact, for the first few months after being dispatched to the succubus country as food, he was convinced death was imminent. Every day, multiple succubi would throw Lowein to the floor, whisper sweet nothings to him with their eyes glowing red, and drain him dry over and over again. Sure, there was pleasure… Enough to drive a man crazy. But it was still hell, all the same. Lowein was certain he would die soon. And in fact, some of the other food subjects who’d arrived at the same time as Lowein were dead within six months. However, at some point, it became heaven. The facility where they were housed had become so luxurious, it’d be fit for the aristocracy, or even royalty. The bare cobblestone floors had been replaced by soft carpet. The rough linen sacks that had served as a place to lie and sleep had been replaced by plush beds, and the rooms had been equipped with furniture like tables and chairs. What’s more, those tables were laden with enough food for a feast…more than anyone could finish. The meals were sumptuous, and the helpings kept coming. The flavors of the dishes were a bit strong, perhaps, but it was better than starving. Lowein had no complaints. Also, during a meal, he would only have to serve one succubus at a time now, and the use of the succubus charm was now banned. Now he was free to grab a succubus and throw her down on the bed, if he liked… If that helped him feel more normal. The succubi were pretty businesslike about the transactions, but sometimes this setup helped to make things much more exciting. Three years had passed. Lowein ate, Lowein slept, and Lowein was devoured by succubi who visited him at regular intervals. But even a cushy life can grow boring if there’s no variety. Lowein gained a lot of weight, and his physical condition began to deteriorate. He was fattened and milked each day in a clinical fashion. He was like livestock. No, he was livestock. Dragging his heavy, dull body around, suffering from some nameless ailment, Lowein remembered that he was technically suffering a death penalty. He had lost all of his humanity. When he felt that sudden pain in his chest during the succubus’s meal, he knew the moment had come. But he survived. Before he knew what had happened, he was lying on a much less comfortable bed, surrounded by succubi and a fairy flying about. Apparently, he’d been revived with fairy dust. The explanations of the fairy and the succubi didn’t make much sense. But what Lowein gleaned from the situation was that an Orc Hero had come to the country and ordered Lowein saved. The Orc Hero Bash. He had seen him only once. It was the decisive battle of the Remium Plateau. Lowein could never forget it. Lowein was in the human battalion. He saw an orc fighting a mighty dragon. Everyone present was watching with jaws hanging, witnessing a battle that defied all logic. When the orc slew the dragon, Lowein felt an indescribable sense of excitement fill his chest. He said he had seen something unbelievable. Even though the enemy had won, Lowein still felt that way. Now the orc had come to the succubus land, and all the succubi seemed in awe of him. The succubi did not attempt to attack or seduce the orc. In fact, they seemed almost nervous around him. And on top of that, the orc had helped out mere succubi fodder with the use of fairy dust. Stupid, smelly orcs… But apparently, an Orc Hero was cut from a different cloth. The day after that incident… Lowein and the other food subjects were taken outside for the first time in three years. Lowein felt the sun for the first time in three years. He saw other food subjects for the first time in three years. They looked as fat and unhealthy as he did, and they, too, gazed up at the bright sky, looking dazed. Being taken outside alone would have been strange enough, but why so many others, too? No one seemed to know what was going on. However, in the place where Lowein and the others were taken, a hellish scene unfolded. “Gah… Ooh! Gack! Agh!” An ogre youth was being chased around by an orc and occasionally kicked in the air by him. It was unclear what the boy had done, but the orc seemed very angry with him. The boy’s face was a mask of deathly terror. “Hey, that’s the Orc Hero.” Someone spoke up, identifying the orc who was chasing the boy around. It had to be. What other orcs were known to be in the country? At that moment, the memory of that old battle came back to Lowein, and a chill ran down his spine, as if a centipede had just marched down it. In this world, there are some terrible monsters. And this one was angry. Kicking the boy all over the place. “Perhaps we are to be…” Everyone had the same thought. They were much weaker now than they used to be. There were too many succubi for the food subjects to keep fed to a satisfactory standard. Yesterday, fairy dust had given them something of a boost, but no doubt those results were only temporary. What do farmers do with old cows that stop producing milk? The answer is obvious. Succubi do not eat meat. But according to rumors, orcs do eat human flesh. It made sense. Yes… This is why we were fattened. “Now, everyone, we’re going to run a few laps of the courtyard. Please, all follow me.” The succubus who had brought the food subjects to the courtyard addressed them then. The succubus sounded almost apologetic. Yes. This was a test. Those who couldn’t keep up would be disposed of like old livestock. Turned into jerky or something like that and given to the orc to eat. Lowein did not want that. He did not want to die. “You don’t have to push yourself too hard. Now let’s go.” Lowein ran as fast as he could. His body felt heavy, his knees creaked in protest, and his lungs screamed for air. Still, thanks to the fairy dust infusion he’d drunk yesterday, he was able to run. Then, perhaps inspired by Lowein’s example, or perhaps having come to the same terrifying conclusion as Lowein, someone else started running in earnest as well. When one person started running, two more followed suit. Then it was four. If we don’t run, this could be bad. Everyone seemed to have the same thought. They started running as fast as they could. No one thought too deeply about why the ogre boy was being chased. However, the ogre boy’s look of desperation was enough to make those who had been idle for three years feel a sense of real crisis and fear. All the food subjects chose to run. They moved their feet as fast as they could. When they fell, they dragged themselves to their feet, insisting, “I’m still good! I can still run!” and those who couldn’t get back up kept moving, even if they had to crawl. They had all spent their days eating, sleeping, and servicing succubus women. They’d lived like aristocrats. They’d been happy. They were grateful, so grateful to have been born male. Because if they’d been women, they’d have ended up as orc breeding slaves instead. But they were still livestock. Livestock must be disposed of when no longer of use. No one wanted to die. They’d survived the war. They wanted to live longer yet. They wanted to live as long as possible… Driven by this instinct, the men continued running. “The food subjects were very happy! We planned to have them jog a little today to see how they did, but they loved it and asked to be allowed to run even more! After the training session was over, they all had a lot more color in their cheeks than before! They all looked very satisfied and seemed to find a sense of accomplishment in the exercise.” “Hmm, I was doubting how effective it would be in preventing the recurrence of the disease… But if they’re happy, then I suppose we should make this a regular thing and keep it going…” “But the number of meals provided has decreased, simply because of the extra time spent training. There will be some dissent, I think.” “And if we continue the training sessions, there will be even less time for meals. We will have to ask the people to have patience…” After getting this report from Nion, Curly Kale nodded. After all, the food subjects were a vital resource, a limited resource. The last thing they wanted was for any of them to get injured. But if the exercise was making them happier, then it was well worth doing. “Out in the courtyard, Lord Bash was training his apprentice at the same time. The food subjects seemed to be inspired by this. They all seemed to want to show off the fact that they ‘still got it.’” “Lord Bash is a war hero. Soldier of the Alliance of Four or not, it’s only natural the food subjects would want to show off their prowess through training. Incidentally, what kind of training did Lord Bash have his apprentice doing?” “You are interested in the orc’s doings, Your Majesty?” “Well, yeah. I don’t mind telling you, I wouldn’t mind being ‘trained’ by Lord Bash himself!” Curly Kale let out a bewitching laugh, and Nion shrugged. “From what I saw, the training was more about physical strength and mental fortitude than technical battle training. Specifically, Lord Bash kicked the boy and made him run until he collapsed.” “Quite practical, eh?” “That’s right. On the battlefield, once you can’t run anymore, you’re dead…” “It reminds me of the Rina Desert. It really was that sort of battlefield. Magic aside, physical battling aside… Only those with the most physical strength and greatest mental fortitude survived to the end…” “I didn’t participate in the evacuation battle of the Rina Desert, but the succubus who volunteered to be the food subjects’ physical coach was a survivor of it. She remembered being kicked by him and made to run… And how it made her drool!” “Looking at Lord Bash as foodstuff is bad. Bad girl. But I shall not punish her. I no doubt would have felt the same if that had been me.” “You are so magnanimous.” Nion did not propose a punishment, either. She, too, had been taken over by Bash’s charms. Though they’d only met once in the grand hall, Nion had stared at Bash’s muscles, noting how they were so taut, they looked ready to snap. She’d wanted to throw herself against that firm chest. And the way he sat with his legs apart made her feel like he was personally seducing her. If she hadn’t kept her head bowed low, she might have lost total control of herself. “At any rate, I don’t think it’s such a good idea for Lord Bash to stay in the succubus land much longer. Someone will end up losing their head.” “Yes. Personally, I’d like to keep him forever, but…” “I hope Your Majesty will not be the one to sully the good name of the succubi…” The two shared a wordless grin. Suddenly, Nion looked out the window. Not a single star could be seen in the dark sky. “Ah.” Curly Kale had a sudden thought. “The food subjects training, Lord Bash and his apprentice training… While we succubi just stand around watching? What if Lord Bash thinks we’re lazy?” “Hmm… Yes… So should we do some military exercises?” “No, if we do that, it might look like we succubi are preparing for war. For now, I’ll just run laps like they do.” “I cannot allow my Queen to run alone. I shall accompany you. And let’s rope in some volunteers, too.” “Heh-heh, let’s.” And so Curly Kale decided to take up jogging as well. “I need volunteers.” Nion returned to her office and summoned her subordinates. “Tomorrow, the Queen will be jogging along with Bash’s training. Naturally, we should run as well. We are looking for other volunteers to join.” “Yes, ma’am!” After this short exchange, the subordinates nodded and left the room. Seeing this, Nion sat down in her chair, relieved. And that was the beginning of all the misfortune. The next day, Bash saw a wonderful sight. Women. A group of women, running in the courtyard in front of him. Succubi, yes. But still women. And at the head of the group was the most succulent succubus of all, Curly Kale. Nearly a hundred succubi running in her wake. If they’d just been running, Bash would have been pleased enough. But succubi wear skimpy clothes as part of the national costume. The clothes are made of leather, fitting tightly to the body, and are easy to get physical in. So as they ran, there was a lot of jiggling and swaying. Swaying from their hair, and jiggling from… Well, you know. The parts Bash was panting to get his hands on. Now those parts were parading in front of him. And not just a single set of parts. There were female jiggly bits of all shapes and sizes, bobbling around all over the place. What a view! Bash was so taken, he even stopped kicking Ludo. But as the final group of running succubi passed by, Bash’s grin tightened. The last group was the young succubi. Skinny bodies leaned forward, faces pale, mouths opening and closing like fish out of water, glaring ahead with murderous stares as they struggled to follow the Queen. Only when they passed in front of Bash did their eyes turn toward Bash and Ludo. Their glares fixed on Bash’s crotch, their mouths curved into smiles, their tongues darted out to lick dry lips. Even Bash could pick up on the waves of dangerous desire emanating from the group. Even after they passed by, they kept their heads turned toward Bash, necks twisting, and once this was no longer possible, their faces showed disappointment. This odd jogging session of the Queen’s came to an end after an easy fifty laps of the courtyard. The Queen and her entourage returned to the palace, clutching gym towels and saying things like, “That was a heck of a workout!” One by one, the others returned to their posts. Only the final group of jogging succubi remained. Sprawled on the floor half dead, gasping for breath. Their dead eyes were fixed in different directions. Some looked at the sky. Some looked at the ground. Some looked in the direction of where the Queen had gone. Some looked at the buildings. But all had that same stare. Eventually, the girls slowly got to their feet, and as if in silent agreement, they turned their eyes to Bash and began advancing upon him. But Venus quickly moved to stand in their way. Venus stared them down until the young succubi clucked their tongues, turning from Bash and slinking out of the courtyard. After making sure they had gone, Venus turned to Bash. “So what did you think?” Bash was a little surprised to be asked that question. But he couldn’t deny that it had been a true feast for the eyes. “Hmm. Not bad.” His response assured Venus that the Queen’s demonstration had hit its mark, and she nodded with a smile. Curly Kale returned to the royal palace after her first workout in a long time and after successfully demonstrating her prowess to Bash. A strategy of hers had paid off, and she felt reassured. Some nice weather would have gone with this triumphant mood, but it was still cloudy outside. No doubt it must be raining heavily outside the barrier. Nion came to stand at the window with the Queen. Her eyes reflected the cloudy sky, just like the Queen’s did. “Your Highness.” “Ye-es?” “My subordinates are also worried that the rain won’t stop.” “Yeah… I know…” “You won’t discuss it, even with me?” Nion and Curly Kale were from basically the same generation. Before Curly Kale was called Queen, the two had shared the battlefield as comrades. It would be no exaggeration to say she was one of the succubi Curly Kale trusted the most. “No, I really don’t know the cause. It’s just…” “Yes?” “I don’t know if it’s related, but I can’t contact the Sacred Guardians.” “…Did you send scouts?” “Naturally, I sent a platoon just to make sure, but… they haven’t come back. They’ve probably all been wiped out.” “A whole platoon wiped out?! Could it be Carrot’s doing?” “No. Even if she were insane, there’s no way she would mess with the Sacred Place. She should know better than anyone how important the Sacred Place is to the succubi.” “Then who?” “I do not know the culprits, but there can be no doubt that this country is currently under attack.” Curly Kale’s words contained a chilling, murderous intent. Nion responded evenly, feeling a warm sense of nostalgia from the sound of that voice. This she was familiar with. “Your Majesty, if you’re worried, why don’t I go and check? If we’re facing an enemy who can scatter even the defenders of the Sacred Place, we’ll need to use a certain amount of skill, right?” “What about the cafeteria?” “I can leave that to my subordinates as well.” “Oh, Nion… Yes, if you’re offering…can I entrust the ‘subjugation team’ to you?” “You can count on me.” There was almost no sound in the royal palace, protected by the barrier. It was a silent night.