The dreamy Black Forest was devoid of its usual gloom. A light blue mist floated among the branches, and the leaves glittered like jewels.
Nol wasn't in the mood to appreciate this beauty. His thoughts were still fixated on the words of Rogue Solo—
They all died more than a hundred and fifty years ago.
It was likely that Decoste died of old age. However, for the succubus queen Hyacinth, her death was tragically premature.
Nol still remembered the time they were creating the backstory for these two characters. There was no AI assistance in this task, and his colleagues were genuinely excited. After the story was outlined, they all excitedly shared their input, even discussing it during lunch breaks.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" was just a sidequest, but the team added countless adorable details to it. From the childhood experiences and habits of the two NPCs to the weather of the Black Forest when they first fell in love, everyone gave it their all. Even the art team put extra effort into the models.
Beautiful Hyacinth and handsome Decoste. They were lovers separated by the chasm of lifespan. Thanks to everyone's hard work, they had a unique and genuinely happy relationship. They felt like children personally nurtured by the production team or like old friends they had known for years.
But they died over a hundred years ago.
What shocked Nol most was that Hyacinth committed suicide—by design, Queen Hyacinth was a strong and rational woman. Even if Decoste betrayed her countless times, she would never abandon her life.
Nol couldn't understand. His good mood disappeared instantly, leaving only confusion and sadness.
"…Why?" he murmured.
"Why what?"
Rogue Solo scratched his face. "Why did they break up? Or why did the queen commit suicide? Haa, I don't know about that."
Nol looked at him sorrowfully.
Feeling uneasy, Solo continued, "I'm told the records were collected by Decoste's descendants. To them, Queen Hyacinth wasn't only their father's ex-wife but also a real monster."
"According to the records, after Decoste broke up with the queen, he never talked about her again. How could his heirs know much inside information?"
"The news of the succubus queen's suicide was big. The Temple of Life is still researching the case… Succubi have always symbolized intimacy and pleasure. 'Suicide' fundamentally goes against their nature," Anakin added.
Solo curled his lips and remarked, "It definitely wasn't for love. They hadn't spoken in decades by the time Decoste died. The queen only killed herself years after his death."
"I see," Nol replied hesitantly. "Anyway, the queen we're helping this time isn't Hyacinth. Do you have information about the new queen?"
Anakin shook her head helplessly.
Teest didn't seem to take it seriously. "Guess we'll have to try our luck."
His "Betrayer" badge was fastened to a belt around his waist, concealed by a loose-fitting white cloth, making it especially hard to detect. Now, dressed in a revealing succubus-style outfit, large patches of his skin were exposed, and there didn't appear to be any baggage on him, making him look pure and harmless.
Nol stepped forward, moving beside Teest. A warm succubus tail emerged from beneath the cloth, gently wrapping around Nol's wrist.
[It seems you need a hug,] Teest thought. [Now might not be the best time, so let this be a substitute.]
Nol managed a weak smile. At times like these, Teest didn't seem like the legendary murderous lunatic at all. Knowing this was likely one of Teest's tricks to make him more reliant, Nol still indulged in the comfort.
He gently pinched the thick tip of Teest's tail. The tail stiffened slightly before playfully scratching his palm in return.
...
The four of them wandered around the Black Forest in their dreams. The fallen leaves on the ground were softly colored and looked like clouds when stepped on. But after wandering for most of the night, everyone was experiencing aesthetic fatigue.
"Aren't succubi supposed to build their nests on the edge of the forest? Where's the promised edge?"
Anakin pounded her own legs, too lazy to maintain her dignified and holy image, and simply sat down under a tree.
Nol: "My information is a bit outdated. I'm sorry."
"No, no, no, it's not your fault," Anakin hastily said. "The succubi have been isolated for so many years. Who knows what they've been up to secretly."
"It feels like we've been going in circles, but I can't find the markers I made." Rogue Solo was scratching the nearby tree bark with his eyebrows furrowed.
Teest was sitting gracefully under a tree. "I think we indeed have been moving in circles, and I feel like we're being watched."
"Huh? Aren't you a swordsman?" Solo gasped. "Can swordsmen sense this?"
"I was born with keen intuition." Teest smiled. "Personal advice, if you want to continue peacefully, it's better for us to just let them observe. Of course, if you two want to forcefully take the 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' from the succubi…"
"No way! We're not like those lunatics from the Eternal Church. I'm just a little worried," Solo quickly interjected.
"If the succubi are no longer friendly towards humans, my brother and I swear to protect both of you," Nol said.
He too sensed the presence of the succubi not far away. Strangely, the aura of the succubi was much weaker than expected, indicating they were in poor condition. That being said, even if the succubus queen Hyacinth herself came, he and Teest could still ensure the safety of the two Players.
"However, if you two change your minds, you can leave here," Nol added.
Anakin shook her head, her expression turning serious. "Let's just stay like this. Don't act and let's just see what they want to do."
And so they walked on and off for most of the day. The sky at the Dream Edge seemed never to change, and by Nol's rough estimate, they had been "lost" until noon the next day.
Finally, the succubi who had been following them revealed themselves.
Not just one succubus appeared—during their wanderings, nearly twenty succubi quietly approached from all directions, forming a tight encirclement.
They resembled humans. The front row held whips, shields, or spears, while the back row set up bows and arrows, and several magic wands pointed at the four from all sides.
Unfortunately, their appearance undermined the imposing nature of the encirclement.
The surrounding succubi, both male and female, were all emaciated with protruding bones. Their features were very delicate, and their bone structures were perfect. But their dried-out skin made even the most beautiful features look terrifying.
…Starving people.
The words unexpectedly popped into Nol's mind.
But how could this be? Even if the succubi were isolated, they shouldn't have become like this. Nol looked into the beautiful eyes of the succubi, which should have been full of joy but now only held caution and numbness.
"State your purpose," the nearest male succubus said sternly, his sword point almost touching Teest's nose.
"I came to visit you all." Teest looked both innocent and surprised. "These humans are my companions, and we're on an adventure… I heard there were others of my kind here, so I came to check. If we did something wrong, I apologize first."
"You?" The succubus' emaciated face showed deep sarcasm. "With that appearance, out in the open? Impossible!"
He gripped his sword tighter, not lowering its point.
"I certainly have my ways of disguise! But to avoid the Eternal Church, it's easier for me alone than a group," Teest added with a hint of anger in his voice. "I was born in the Shiva Realm. I just came to visit my kind here! Of course, assuming you're aware of the situation in the Shiva Realm."
The sword-wielding succubus hesitated. "How can you prove—"
Before he could finish, his face stiffened, and his sword fell to the ground. He reached out to Teest as if enchanted. Nol looked over, and indeed, Teest's golden eyes were shimmering.
The succubus' innate ability [Charm] was astoundingly effective. Even if Players could disguise themselves as a succubus, they couldn't use Charm.
[Charm] strictly followed the principle of "might makes right". Apparently, Kando wasn't lying. Teest's skills were indeed stronger than the average succubus. Of course, the opponent's poor condition might also be a factor.
"Enough!" A female succubus behind Teest shouted. "We recognize your identity—take your humans and leave immediately. Outsiders are not welcome here."
Teest obediently closed his eyes and bowed slightly. "I want to see your queen."
A murmur of whispers erupted. The succubi huddled together, and the atmosphere of suspicion thickened.
"I have no other intention. I just can't bear to see my kind suffer. As a representative from the Shiva Realm, I want to know if I can help… You all must know, at this rate, you won't last much longer!" Teest's sincerity was palpable, as if he truly was a saint. Even Nol felt touched.
"Yes, Landus is my most important companion, and I don't want to see his kind suffer either." Nol recalled Teest's pseudonym and joined the conversation.
The male succubus, having just recovered from Charm, sneered at Nol's statement. "Really? If you're willing to wear magic-restricting chains and come with us, we might believe your sincerity."
He emphasized every word, dripping with hostility.
"I'm willing," Nol replied without hesitation, even offering his wrist before Teest.
The two Players behind him exchanged glances and also extended their hands. Finally, Teest, with an exaggerated sigh, extended his arms.
His arms were perfectly shaped, in stark contrast to the dried arms of the succubus putting the shackles on him.
…What had these succubi been through in the past two hundred years?
...
A few minutes later, Nol understood why they couldn't find the entrance. On the Dream Edge, the succubi created another dream within a dream, hiding the entrance inside it.
One of the succubi slit her wrist and smeared a layer of fresh blood on the eyelids of the four, allowing them to enter this hidden area.
Ordinary succubi definitely didn't possess such a level of power; Nol was quite certain of that.
Such tactics were reminiscent of the style of the succubus queen Hyacinth. As for the power to maintain these illusions… it was likely that the succubi borrowed external forces through other means.
However, Nol had no chance to investigate further. The group of succubi imprisoned them in a separate dungeon directly, without Nol ever seeing their real stronghold.
A dungeon in a dream was still a dungeon. The surroundings here were far from dreamy. The damp air and the moldy smell of straw felt very real. The dungeon of the succubi was near an endless corridor, very dim, with a visibility of no more than five meters. From the depths of the darkness, faint moans could occasionally be heard. Nol could sense the presence of humans and… human skeletons.
It was hard to say whether the human presence or the succubi's was weaker. They were equally on the edge of life and death.
The decaying prison door creaked shut, and the four were confined in the same cell.
"So, can I ask what's the deal with the Eternal Church and the Shiva Realm?" Solo whispered. "Now it's your turn to share some details."
"You don't seem worried at all," Teest remarked.
"Think about my skills. These shackles are no problem," Rogue Solo whispered even more quietly. "We're playing the whole act, right? You start."
Nol looked at Teest curiously. He apparently knew more about the succubi than anyone else here, having likely encountered the succubus group while acquiring his skills.
"The Eternal Church has always been hunting succubi. The Shiva Realm is where the Eternal Church's power is weakest, and it's the only public settlement of the remaining succubi," Teest succinctly summarized.
"Ah, those Eternalists even offend succubi? Makes sense, they're the type to kick every dog they see on the side of the road," Solo lamented. "The world is getting worse and worse…"
Anakin frowned in silence, lost in thought.
"Why are they capturing succubi?" Nol inquired.
Instead of answering, Teest tilted his head, signaling something. Nol then felt the presence of a succubus.
"Because floating feather birds have valuable feathers, silver unicorns have rare horns, and we have enchanting spiritual magic… They want everything. Humans always want everything," a hoarse voice responded.
The newcomer was none other than the male succubus who had earlier threatened Teest with a sword. Holding a lantern that illuminated only himself, he approached in an eerie manner. He stopped outside the cell, lifting his lantern to illuminate his skeletal face, creating a spooky and icy atmosphere.
"With 'Infatuation', we can get everything, from secrets that can't be pried out to information that can't be extracted through torture," the succubus coldly said. "You all don't know this? And you claim to be comrades of the succubi."
"That's because they're all pure-hearted people," Teest softly replied. "Dear brethren, are you here to set us free?"
"We have questions for you alone," the indifferent succubus stated. "These humans will stay here. You come with us."
"No! I'm going with him," Nol blurted out.
The prison might be somewhat safe, and these shackles wouldn't confine Players. But if Teest was taken away alone, there was no telling what would happen to him.
The succubus sneered, "You don't have the right—"
"He's my husband, so he certainly has the right," Teest interrupted. "We made vows before the Goddess of Life. Only death can separate us."
Anakin and Solo were stunned. While Anakin was somewhat calmer, Solo nearly gasped out loud.
"Lies."
"If you don't believe us, look at the necklaces we wear," Teest continued in his gentle tone, playing the role of a harmless, affable succubus. "We wear matching wedding rings, see?"
The succubus, half-doubting, pulled out their necklaces and saw the rings. His expression turned complicated. Nol felt the shock from the two Players, their intense gazes piercing through the darkness.
"This could mean something else," the succubus finally said after a pause. If it weren't for Anakin nudging Solo in time, Solo might've agreed.
'There's no other way,' Nol thought to himself. They shouldn't be wasting time on such trivial matters. It was dim here anyway, so why not let a modern person like himself take charge?
He tilted his body, getting close to Teest's face.
Just a second before their lips met, Nol turned his head, trying to deceive the succubus by pretending to kiss. However, his "legal husband" seemed to have the same idea.
The two shifted towards each other simultaneously, and their lips met firmly in a genuine kiss.
Nol: ".….."
Teest: ".….."
Nol's mind was almost blank.
'My first kiss was to a man… What a twist in life,' he thought blankly. He wondered how they appeared to the two Players. At this moment, the pupils of the two Players trembled so violently that it seemed like they'd cause an earthquake.
Teest's breathing paused for a moment, and he elegantly shifted away, pretending the kiss was practiced.
"Isn't that enough?" Teest's tone was almost accusatory. "It's very rude to treat our kind like this. Are you trying to make enemies with the clan of Shiva by even taking away my lover?"
The succubus remained silent even longer before finally letting out a deep sigh.
"You both come with me," he said wearily. "The other two humans stay here—and don't try anything suspicious, or we won't be so courteous."
The two Players remained silent. Nol suspected they weren't scared but simply in shock. Avoiding their intense stares, Nol wobbly stood up, leaving the cell with Teest. As they departed the dungeon, the Players' eyes followed them.
Nol wanted to mentally communicate with Teest to explain, but Teest remained silent as if nothing happened. Emphasizing now would seem forced. With the situation being so odd and serious matters at hand, it was best to pretend nothing happened. After all, it wasn't a deep kiss, just a peck.
Thus, the two maintained their silence, and the only sound nearby was the clinking of chains against the floor.
Watching them leave, Anakin and Solo gasped almost simultaneously.
"You said you used the 'Silent Truth' to verify, right?" Rogue Solo stuttered. "You said they were half-brothers! Ah, brothers with a couple's ring pendants?!"
"Maybe they were just acting." Anakin's voice was filled with uncertainty.
"You can't act that out, sister. Imagine us kissing… urgh!" The young rogue didn't finish before making a gagging sound.
Anakin gagged even louder. "No, no, no. Absolutely not. Just kill me now."
"Same here." Solo grimaced. "Did you see any disgust between them? I didn't. Don't tell me they're actually together…"
"'Even though we have different mothers, I swear in the Goddess' name that our bond is close…' Landus said so." Anakin recalled, taking deep breaths. "Thinking about it, this statement also applies to those officially engaged."
"I get it now." Solo sighed in relief. "The Temple of Life publicly doesn't oppose but doesn't exactly support same-sex marriage either. Given your 'Saint' status, they might have been wary of you being radical… Well, misleading us like this is kind of sad."
"Indeed." Anakin reflected.
"…So, are they really a couple? Even married? They must be rare NPCs!"
"Exactly, we have to build a good relationship with them." Anakin nodded seriously.
Ignoring their handcuffs, the two decisively high-fived.
...
Nol and Teest followed the succubus towards the main chamber of the nest.
Slowly, Nol recognized the familiar design. The surroundings grew brighter, with colorful stones forming beautiful patterns on the tiles. The milky-white walls were spotless, adorned with ever-fresh flowers and leaves. The increasingly sweet fragrance gave a sense of lightheadedness.
The succubi maintained their nest well. Everything was vibrant, and the guards diligently stood their posts—though dressed in refined armor, they looked like dried-up corpses.
This made even the most charming scene eerily uncanny. Nol's mood grew heavier, almost forgetting the lingering sensation on his lips.
The succubus leading them remained silent, guiding them to the royal court's grand hall. As they arrived at the grand door, it opened on its own.
Behind the slowly opening doors, Nol saw the succubus' throne. It was decorated with gem-carved flowers, an exquisite seat of power that was as beautiful as a work of art.
However, the seat was empty.
The author has something to say:
Laughing to death at how they kissed for the first time——
Nol: "Teest didn't mention it, so he probably didn't mind. I shouldn't awkwardly bring it up…"
Teest: "Nol didn't mention it, so he probably didn't mind. I shouldn't awkwardly bring it up…"
The two Players: "They must be involved!"
Kinky Thoughts:
I believe the term for a male succubus is an incubus. However, I don't want to change too much terminology in case it's important to the story and want to reflect the author's intention since she didn't specifically use (梦魇).