“Sophia, do you know what a succubus is?”
“…Huh?”
Dad’s words were confusing to me.
A succubus? Isn’t that a monster?
I’m not sure if it’s real, but I think I saw something like that in a fairy tale when I was little.
What was it? A hero story or something. Anyway, I vaguely remember it being a monster.
“Why do you ask all of a sudden? What’s that got to do with making aphrodisiacs? Is the name of the aphrodisiac succubus or something?”
No, using a species name as a brand name must be illegal.
“Do you know what a succubus is?”
“Um… A whore race?”
That’s about right. They seduce men and drain them.
If I think it’s strange, it’s probably because most people would think of it that way.
They’re kind of like a kumiho. Isn’t that the vibe? Of course, there’s the complication of people dying or losing stamina afterward, but normally they’re known for making men have naughty dreams or entering their dreams.
“….”
“….”
“Why?”
Suddenly, both of them stopped talking.
Did I say something wrong? In the fairy tales I read as a kid, the succubus tried to suck the life out of a hero and got purged, so…
“Well, something like that.”
“But why?”
“Because the aphrodisiac we sell at home is related to that.”
“Ex…. Really?”
Is the brand name really succubus or something? That sounds sketchy.
“But what is this aphrodisiac really? I’ve never heard of it until today.”
“Well, you can’t tell a child about that.”
“That’s true, but Dad, you just work in the fields, right?”
“Of course! That was your mom’s job.”
“???”
I don’t get it. My mom is a drug dealer?!
Sure, she said it was legal, but that still doesn’t mean I can wrap my head around it.
My mom created the aphrodisiac? Wait, do they even make it at home? Do they sell it and make it too?
“Did Mom make the drugs? Or did she just sell them?”
“Um… Both?”
“Mom was always at home.”
“That’s because she just sends it off by courier from the Mage Tower.”
“….”
That doesn’t sound wrong. They really did have a courier service at the Mage Tower.
However, it’s not a service used that often, as the prices are kind of high, and other places can also send deliveries.
“What about making them?”
“I told you, we made them together at night when you were asleep.”
“…. Wow.”
That’s impressive. In many ways.
“So what’s a succubus really about? Is that in the product name?”
“Honey, you explain. It’d be better coming from you than me.”
“Can’t you do it? I’m feeling a bit shy about explaining it now…”
“It’s your thing, and it’ll be more convincing coming from you, trust me!”
I don’t know what they’re talking about, but it sounds related to Mom. After all, it’s Mom, not Dad, who’s the drug dealer.
I mean, of course it is.
“U-Um, what is it….”
“Right, it’s probably better to just get it over with.”
“Wait! What is it really!?”
“Sophia, listen carefully. Brace yourself.”
“….”
I swallowed nervously, focused on what Mom was about to say.
Whatever she was going to say, this was clearly serious.
My parents sat on the couch, and I sat opposite them.
We all paused for a moment.
They were preparing to reveal something important, and I steadied myself to hear this unknown crucial fact.
“Okay, Mom, I’m ready.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
I calmed my chest as much as I could. I mean, I was already shocked that my family was involved in drugs.
I was beyond shocked at this point.
“Actually, you’re… a succubus.”
“…. Huh?”
“You’re a succubus. Well, more like a descendant of one.”
“Huh?”
Mom must have misspoken.
I can’t be a succubus; I must be a servant!
I’ve worked as a servant before, after all.
Sure, it’s only fair to call me a maid since I’m a girl, but I never wore maid outfits or anything, so being called a servant seems fine too.
But that’s not dramatic enough to warrant the whole brace-yourself speech.
“Mom, you’re just messing with me, right?”
“I’m serious.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“As in, me?”
“Yup.”
“A succubus?”
“Yup.”
The only thought swirling in my mind was a giant question mark.
Am I a descendant of succubi?
“Come on, Mom. Why would you suddenly joke like that? I can understand making aphrodisiacs, but…”
“This isn’t a joke, I’m serious.”
“Your mom is right.”
“Ugh, come on, don’t joke around!”
If I were truly a succubus, I wouldn’t be living this ordinary life.
I mean, succubi normally can’t survive without draining men, right?
I’ve always lived a normal life, eating regular meals. I’ve never had such encounters, and I don’t have horns or a tail!
“Umm…”
“Honey, show her.”
“Should I?”
“What are you going to show?”
Now I’m really scared about what might come next.
Aphrodisiacs have come up, and now there’s this nonsense about me being a succubus.
Is this even real life, or am I just stuck in some bizarre dream?
*snap!*
“…. Wow~”
“What do you think?”
“It’s just horns, right? And there’s a tail too?”
Mom suddenly snapped her fingers and used some transformation magic to create horns and a tail.
This kind of transformation magic is something anyone who can use magic can do, so I didn’t think much of it.
“Usually, when people think of succubi, they picture this.”
“Um… I guess?”
“Horns like this and a tail are definitely the most familiar image.”
“So why?”
“But actually, succubi don’t come with horns or tails.”
“Huh?”
“Succubi don’t have horns or tails like ordinary people.”
“….”
“Instead, they’re more attractive than regular folks. They look younger as time passes and are naturally good at seducing others.”
“….”
No way.
I refuse to believe it.
There’s no way I could be a succubus.
There’s no way my mom is a succubus… and there’s certainly no way I am one…
Right?
“Kyle~! Come out!”
“Ugh, Mom?! Why are you calling Kyle all of a sudden?!”
Mom suddenly called for Kyle.
We were talking about some strange, dangerous stuff, and I thought she was making sure he stayed in the room.
Kyle appeared from my room, looking kind of dumbfounded.
But the more pressing question was why she called him out now.
We were talking about aphrodisiacs, and all of a sudden, there’s this nonsense about me being a succubus!
“Kyle, you’ve had a lot of girls and boys interested in you, right?”
“What are you talking about, Mom? There’s no way that’s true!”
Mom was saying strange things to Kyle.
Except for Kyle, no one else showed me any unusual attention.
During those days at the academy, I made casual connections with some commoner girls, and after dealing with some stuck-up noble girls, I mostly kept to myself.
When I was an adventurer, I always went solo.
“That’s true.”
“What?”
“You attracted an unusual amount of attention, and people kept looking at you, didn’t they?”
“Yeah.”
“Kyle? That’s never happened to you, right? What’s up with this?”
Nothing like that had ever happened while hanging out with Kyle.
Nobody showed any strange behavior around me aside from him.
Sure, there was that funny guy with the weird mustache at the ball, but he was just plain weird.
“Plus, you give off a pleasant scent.”
“… Yeah.”
“????”
I stared at Kyle in disbelief.
If it were normal times, I would’ve at least tried to hide my expression, but not now.
I give off a pleasant scent?
Wait, was Kyle talking about that fresh scent made from bath products?
Or maybe the smell I sensed from Kyle in the dreams I had lately?
“Sophia, you mentioned you’ve been having weird dreams lately?”
“Yeah.”
“Those aren’t really your dreams—they’re you entering Kyle’s consciousness.”
“…. Huh?”
“That’s proof you’re a descendant of a succubus.”
“No way! That sounds like some magic nonsense. I asked Louise already, and she said there’s no such thing as entering dreams.”
I’d already confirmed that with Louise; she said it wasn’t a thing.
“That’s not magic; that’s a characteristic of succubi. Sucking life outside and in dreams is a succubus trait.”
“No, I’ve never done that! Kyle said he hasn’t had dreams recently either!”
“Well, that’s because you didn’t go deep enough with Kyle in his dreams. You probably just poked around a bit.”
“How do you know…?”
Honestly, all I did was poke Kyle’s cheeks and body with my finger.
Even in a dream, touching Kyle like that felt too pervy for me.
I respected personal boundaries.
“Even so, I can’t be a succubus….”
“Sophia.”
“Kyle, even you think that’s weird, right?”
“I think it makes sense.”
“Huh?”
Kyle, the one I thought I could trust, started saying the weirdest things.
Is today an April Fool’s joke or something?
No way, not likely.
But if not, then why would Kyle say something so unbelievable?
“Actually, among the young ladies who’ve come to our territory, a few have fallen for Sophia, and people have said she has a pleasant scent, making her good at seduction.”
“Apparently, your boyfriend thinks that too?”
“No way! I’m not like that…! It’s probably just coincidence?!”
“What’s it going to take for you to accept this?”
“Bring me undeniable proof that I’m a descendant of a succubus!”
Nothing Mom has said so far has been solid evidence!
Even if she’s my mom, she must provide proof I can’t deny.
Otherwise, there’s no way I can accept this ridiculous nonsense!
“Honey, you’ve kept it, right?”
“Yeah.”
“What’s in this?”
“Here.”
Mom handed me a single piece of paper.
Just one sheet of paper—not multiple pages.
“Sophia… birth certificate….”
I started to read the content quickly.
What could this possibly say that warranted such a delivery?
“Here it says that this person is certified as a descendant of the hybrid species: succubus…? Dextrin Empire…?”
“I even had it registered in the capital.”
“At that time, your mom did some big favors for us, bringing a newborn baby all the way to Borusia.”
“…”
That paper was clearly an official document acknowledged by the empire.
The quality of the paper and the text on it were top-notch.
And importantly, it had the imperial seal stamped on it.
It looked just like the seal used when filling out applications for adventurer registration in the empire.
No matter how I try to argue, the fact is, it’s legally certified.
Whatever ruckus I might try to make from now on, there’s no flipping the contents of that document.
“So does this mean….”
I’m now the descendant of a state-certified prostitute race…?
“No way…!”
“It’s not a lie.”
Mom managed a subtle smile.
Today that smile felt creepily cheerful.
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