Is It Strange for a Succubus to Wear Clothes?

Chapter 13: I’m Pretty, Aren’t I! (1)

The chaos of the auction house had reached its peak, just as the Succubus Empress desired.

Those captivated by the uncontainable allure and desires observed by the Empress herself turned their rage against each other, filling the air with tension so intense it spiraled beyond control.

Amid the turmoil, Jaehee walked gracefully and serenely, like the eye of a storm.

Her hand reached forward with unwavering clarity, cutting through the chaos as if guided by a singular purpose—toward the violin that echoed with the curses and resentment of 187 children.

The moment she grasped the violin, an eerie and peculiar silence enveloped the room.

In that moment, as if time itself had stopped, the chaos ceased.

Jaehee broke the silence, lifting the violin to rest against her shoulder.

From the void, a bow appeared, seemingly part of the violin itself, and her delicate hand moved toward the strings. The first note resonated in the air.

It was no ordinary melody.

The sound felt like long-forgotten souls awakening one by one in the depths of darkness, each sharing their story.

A requiem for the nameless children, their pain and screams, who had been kidnapped and turned into materials for the violin.

Those who had just been shouting out their desires turned their gazes toward the center of the stage, drawn irresistibly to the sound.

At first, they followed the melody unknowingly, captivated.

As the music continued, people began to realize this was no mere performance or composition.

It was a requiem.

Tears fell from some as they wept for a sorrow that wasn’t theirs.

For those without children, the melody evoked the grief of losing a child.

It felt as if a colossal, indescribable force was pulling them into its presence.

The violin’s music carried sorrow at its core.

Yet, it was also a sacred rite, both consoling the 187 souls and soothing the spirits filled with anger and bitterness from their tragic deaths.

The melody served as a key to alleviate even a fraction of the pain and sadness of those who were shattered before they could bloom or smile properly.

It pierced through the air, spreading across the entire auction house, melting every human heart unconditionally.

But some began to react not with awe, but with heightened vigilance and tension.

“Who is that woman…?”

“She’s not human… Could she be someone who underwent a rare awakening?”

“That’s no ordinary magic. Who in the world is she? A villain? A terrorist?”

“She’s similar to a succubus in allure, but there’s something entirely different about her.”

Some tilted their heads in curiosity, trying to figure out the situation, while others, uneasy about the strange harmony, kept their guard up.

The melody seeped into the hearts of those present—calm yet compelling, leaving no room for resistance.

You will listen here.

You will sit quietly and listen.

You will revere the requiem I present.

Expressions on faces began to shift, a mix of awe and curiosity replacing the earlier chaos.

The sight of her playing the violin was an overwhelming beauty, like an unimaginable painting come to life.

As they fell deeper into the melody, they felt a chill run down their spines from the disarray crafted by the Succubus Empress.

—To enchant all the high-ranking Hunters present at the auction in an instant?

—If she’s a succubus, just how powerful is her mental influence?

—No, can she even be classified as a succubus?

The humans, though immersed in the music, couldn’t completely free themselves from the disarray she created.

What was certain was that Jaehee’s first requiem was more than enough to capture the attention of everyone there.

—Oh, who is she? What is that beauty?

—So beautiful. Of all the humans I’ve encountered, she is the most exquisite.

—She transcends race, surpasses emotion. Who is she?

—Wow, her face… What is this?

Many people.

Those who had gathered in this underground world out of desire were now consumed even further by longing, passion, and fervor upon seeing the face of the Succubus Empress.

Who was she?

Such a delicate, flawless figure.

A body as graceful as a swan’s.

And yet, behold her elegance and dignity, untouched by any exposure or vulgarity.

How could anyone not covet her?

“…Excuse me, Auctioneer. Would you consider auctioning that woman?”

“…She is not an auction item.”

The voice of a senior official from Hoyeon Guild, the largest and most prestigious guild in the country, was laden with uncontrollable desire and possessiveness.

Had she been an auction item, he would have mobilized all his available resources—no, his entire network and wealth accumulated thus far—to bid for her.

Even the high-ranking Hunters, who had initially been wary, were slowly succumbing to the violin’s allure.

Who is she?

Suspicious.

But what does it matter?

It doesn’t matter. Right now, I just want to surrender to this sound.

My mind is melting.

It feels like it’s melting away.

When Jaehee struck the final note, the people in the auction house stared at her in profound silence.

Their eyes reflected a mix of confusion and reverence. It felt as if they had not merely listened to a performance but become part of some sacred and grand ritual.

And amidst countless reverent gazes, Jaehee thought to herself.

‘…So, now what?’

The instincts of a succubus are impulsive and incredibly volatile.

What does that mean?

They flare up suddenly, and once those instincts are “satisfied,” they vanish as quickly as they came.

What remains is “rationality.”

Only the rationality of the human Lee Jaehee was left.

And human Lee Jaehee was feeling an overwhelming and intense awkwardness.

Why me?

Why on earth?

How did this even…?

Sure, the violin was beautiful, and the children’s lingering souls were pitiful, but how had it come to this?

Having acted impulsively, driven by the instincts and unconscious will of a succubus, Jaehee now had to grapple with the flood of shame, embarrassment, and every awkward emotion in existence.

‘…Why on earth did I do that?’

The violin still rested in her hands.

Outwardly, Jaehee remained elegant and alluring, a seductive incarnation of desire capable of igniting human cravings effortlessly.

But inwardly, it was a different story.

Discomfort.

And an overwhelming sense of embarrassment and shame, akin to post-rational clarity, that made her want to crawl into a hole.

‘Why did I even…? Is there no hole, no tiny crack where I can hide?’

What was it about this violin?

Of course, it was true Jaehee felt sympathy and pity for the children’s lingering resentment and cries.

But to think that playing the violin would throw the entire auction into such utter chaos?

Me?

What a nuisance I’ve been.

Though Jaehee, as the Succubus Empress, often reveled in her own beauty, she was neither so shameless as to steal items outright nor so childish as to enthrall others to say, “Buy that for me!”

It wasn’t as though she lacked money, either.

Granted, her conscience might be a bit loose, but she had no intention of stooping to such petty, childish behavior.

“…Excuse me, but…”

“…?”

“Eek!?”

On the quiet stage, the auctioneer mustered enough courage to break through the overwhelming aura of Jaehee’s beauty and elegance to address her.

But it wasn’t easy.

Could you please put down the violin?

It’s an auction item.

You shouldn’t handle it recklessly.

Although the situation was chaotic, technically, it still belonged to us.

Thoughts like these came to mind, but when their eyes met Jaehee’s, the auctioneer’s heart skipped a beat, and words failed to form properly.

“Yes, I’ll put it down. My apologies.”

“Oh…”

To the auctioneer’s relief, Jaehee obediently placed the violin down.

### Chapter 13: I’m Pretty, Aren’t I! (2)

This could have turned into a problematic situation, but fortunately, it didn’t.

However, just as Jaehee carefully handed the violin back to the auctioneer and descended from the stage, it happened.

“Well then, let’s resume the auc—”

— *Whoosh!*

At that exact moment, the violin vanished from the auctioneer’s hands.

The missing violin reappeared in Jaehee’s grasp as she stepped down from the stage.

“What?”

“What is that?”

The auctioneer, the attendees, the onlookers, and even Jaehee herself were startled.

No, seriously, what’s going on here?

I didn’t do this.

Eek, what is this?

Of course, outwardly, she maintained her poised and elegant demeanor.

Only outwardly, though.

“…Was that an Ego Weapon?”

“Whether it’s truly an Ego Weapon or not, it’s bonded now.”

“Wow. The violin chose its owner?”

“This is the first time I’ve seen something like this.”

“The owner was decided even before the auction ended.”

“……”

Uh… hmm.

Oh no.

What now?

Jaehee, still maintaining her elegant facade, was breaking out into a cold sweat internally.

…Didn’t someone bid a billion dollars for this just now…?

Jaehee closed her eyes as her thoughts became a whirlwind of confusion.

Edison once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Oscar Wilde also said, “Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.”

So, Jaehee thought to herself:

‘It’s okay! I’m pretty!’

She desperately ignored the shame, embarrassment, absurdity, confusion, and the sudden clarity of reality crashing over her.

—

**★**

—

**Good morning.**

Or rather, good evening.

Senior Officer Dan Ahyeon felt refreshed after having the best sleep she’d had in a long time.

‘…Ms. Jaehee is really something. She might seem mischievous, but she’s so kind-hearted.’

Perhaps the slight use of forced allure was her way of helping Dan Ahyeon finally get some proper rest after days of sleeplessness.

‘…Did she go out?’

When she woke up to find Jaehee missing, there was a slight pang of disappointment, which surprised her.

Had Jaehee been there, the sight would’ve been like a painting.

Jaehee lying beside her, her eyes closed, and then mischievously fluttering them open, saying, “Oh my, you’re awake?” in that fox-like way of hers.

Or perhaps, wearing an apron, preparing a simple snack… No, it would be absurd to expect that from someone with no domestic skills.

Honestly, she wasn’t even sure if Jaehee could cook instant ramen properly.

‘Honestly, living with her is tough on my heart.’

Still, the fact that her fatigue was gone left Dan Ahyeon in a good mood.

*—Beep beep beep!*

“…Yes, this is Senior Officer Dan Ahyeon speaking…”

As the phone rang, Dan Ahyeon grabbed her jacket draped over the bed and frowned.

Sigh. Another call from some agency or higher-ups ready to chew her out, huh….

[“Ah, are you the spokesperson or legal representative?”]

“…What?”

A spokesperson?

Me?

For a moment, Dan Ahyeon wondered if this was some bizarre spam call.

Then again, there was a role where she effectively served as a spokesperson or legal representative.

‘Is this about Ms. Jaehee?’

Of course, it had to be about [Managing Special Returnees], specifically Lee Jaehee.

Realistically, Dan Ahyeon acted as Jaehee’s spokesperson and attorney regarding her social and administrative matters.

She managed everything—Jaehee’s pension, insurance, identification, Hunter certification, and even her taxes.

[“To put it simply… Ms. Jaehee has caused a significant disruption to our operations.”]

“Operations? And who might you be?”

Dan Ahyeon sighed internally.

Here we go again.

Apparently, Jaehee had snuck out while she was asleep. Of course, Dan Ahyeon understood the desire to go out.

The government and higher-ups were constantly monitoring Jaehee’s every move, making reports about her whereabouts.

Dan Ahyeon sympathized with how oppressive it was to be under constant surveillance, so she often turned a blind eye to Jaehee’s outings.

‘It seems she ran into trouble again with some unreasonable jerk or thug. Ms. Jaehee’s face is just too pretty—it unintentionally attracts conflict.’

Still, it wasn’t a complete disaster.

If Jaehee had gotten truly angry and dealt with someone physically or in a succubus-like manner, this wouldn’t have been a simple matter to resolve.

Dan Ahyeon began mentally calculating the appropriate compensation this “victim” might demand.

If the amount was reasonable, she’d pay them off and tell them to buzz off.

If they crossed the line, she’d respond with her professional authority.

If that didn’t work, she’d deal with them directly, perhaps with a well-placed smack.

After all, as a high-ranking Public Hunter, Dan Ahyeon wasn’t someone even the largest guilds could easily ignore.

[“To summarize further, this is the ‘Mapo-gu Nest.’”]

“…Yes, the Mapo-gu Nest… Wait, what?”

Mapo-gu Nest.

Dan Ahyeon was all too familiar with what that meant.

An underground city filled with outlaws, criminal Awakened, and all kinds of shadowy organizations.

A place the government couldn’t touch, where the powerful thrived on wealth from beetle eggs as substitutes for mana stones.

Dan Ahyeon also knew its history well.

She had even been scouted by the Mapo-gu Nest’s factions back when it was being established.

At the time, she was just a low-ranking Public Hunter, toiling away while the underworld was being built.

But now…

‘Why is Ms. Jaehee there?’

[“And Ms. Jaehee caused quite a commotion in our auction house.”]

“…What?”

[“The ownership of an auction item with a final bid of one billion dollars now belongs to Ms. Jaehee.”]

“…What?”

[“The item has bonded to Ms. Jaehee like an Ego Weapon, and it can’t be separated from her.”]

What?

Am I still dreaming?

What did I just hear?

Mapo-gu Nest, underground city, auction house, Ego Weapon, bonded, one billion dollars….

[“And Ms. Jaehee has designated you as her legal representative…”]

“Could you pass the phone to Ms. Jaehee for a moment?”

[“Ah, yes.”]

The call was transferred.

And Jaehee answered.

[“……”]

Typically, when Jaehee answered a call, she’d greet Dan Ahyeon playfully with, “Oh my, Senior Officer~” in a lilting voice.

Even now, she might’ve teased her with, “Did you sleep well?” or “It’s already evening, Senior Officer~ You’re such a sleepyhead~” with her usual cheeky tone.

But this time.

Human Lee Jaehee said nothing, keeping her lips sealed.

“Ms. Jaehee.”

[“…Yes, please go ahead.”]

Dan Ahyeon, notably dropping the honorific “Ms.” and addressing her as “Jaehee,” continued.

And human Lee Jaehee’s voice, while mesmerizing and enchanting to strangers who might marvel, “Wow, what a voice…,” was unmistakable to Dan Ahyeon.

It was the voice of someone who knew exactly what they’d done wrong.

“With all due respect, may I say one thing?”

[“…Of course, Senior Officer. Anything you say….”]

“May I curse at you?”

[“……”]

At that, Jaehee fell silent.

She could almost hear the flood of unsaid expletives in Senior Officer Dan Ahyeon’s words.