I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City-Chapter 132: Olivia (1)

The second named succubus fell surprisingly quickly due to a compatibility issue, leaving her stunned expression fixed in death. Rohan and Ichinose left her body behind as they exited the mansion strewn with frozen ward stones.

The path through the forest, crudely made, still enforced a one-way progression. Once again, upon crossing another boundary, a new scene unfolded.

"Could it be a village...?" Ichinose wondered aloud.

"It definitely looks like one," Rohan replied, not particularly surprised, though Ichinose remained silent, likely overwhelmed by the sight.

They decided not to venture directly into the well-built village within the forest but instead circled it warily from a distance.

"It might be a village inhabited by succubi. If that's the case, it would be dangerous for Rohan just to pass through," Ichinose speculated.

"True," Rohan agreed, knowing all too well that he couldn't be certain this was the same as any dungeon he remembered. Complacency could lead to death, making Ichinose's caution most prudent.

"How about we quietly search just to see if the Monolith is there?" Rohan suggested.

"Sounds good. Let's move as quietly as possible," Ichinose agreed.

"Okay." Rohan took the lead, his weapon at the ready as they stealthily moved through the village.

As they infiltrated deeper, observing the lifeless village, the scene was eerily reminiscent of a medieval fantasy game location — the buildings followed such an architectural style, but the rest felt starkly out of place.

Under a moon-dominated gloomy sky, the village was constructed of frozen ward stones, each seemingly assigned a specific role, repeating the same motions as if under some unspoken command.

One ward stone repeatedly tried to sell withered grass, while another continuously circled a specific area, pretending to add life to the streets. All were dutifully performing their assigned roles.

Feeling uneasy about the inexplicable place, Ichinose stepped closer to Rohan.

"This place is creepy. It seems there are no succubi around, right?"

"I don’t see any," Rohan replied, aware of what this place represented — a vast collection of human replicas gathered by a ruling succubus, a grotesque garden of envy and jealousy towards humans.

The only thing Rohan didn't know was how long this massive setup had been in the making.

"Shall we go into the village?" he proposed.

"Are we going to deal with those ward stones while we’re at it?" Ichinose asked.

"Let's start quietly. With so many ward stones around, there’s bound to be a communicative succubus somewhere. In my experience, if we take out that one, the rest will be freed," Rohan explained.

"Understood," Ichinose nodded, and they concluded their circuit around the village.

Moving cautiously, they avoided the diligently working ward stones, diving deeper into the village.

After navigating through the mist and disturbing various parts of the village for a while, they began to see a mansion standing apart from the rest. It was grand and ancient, incomparable to the other buildings and eerily familiar to both Rohan and Ichinose.

Its solitary, lofty presence was a clear sign of a succubus's mansion.

"It’s easy to spot," Rohan noted.

"People wouldn’t think to come here willingly, so I guess she didn’t feel the need to hide. Considering the succubi we've encountered so far," Ichinose replied.

"Or it's just her confidence."

As they approached, they noticed what seemed to be the entrance to the yard, guarded by two ward stones. These figures were motionless but dressed in armor and armed with spears.

"Let's deal with those armed ward stones now, to avoid trouble later," Rohan suggested.

"Agreed." Rohan's sword swiftly dispatched the ward stones, which offered no resistance, serving more as decorative than defensive.

Having quietly entered the yard, Rohan checked with Ichinose for the last time, confirming their objective within this mansion.

"Baby-nose, you still have your potions, right?"

"Of course," Ichinose confirmed, showing the potions she carried.

"Use them without hesitation. Missing the right moment makes them pointless," Rohan cautioned.

"Don’t worry," she reassured him with a smile, perhaps subconsciously sensing this mansion as their final stop.

"We’re going in."

After receiving a nod from Ichinose, Rohan pushed open the door leading into the mansion. The door creaked, needing oil, and revealed the interior.

‘I remember clearly now.’

The interior of the mansion, where the Monolith should be, carried a heavy scent similar to other succubus dwellings, but it was uniquely decorated with mirrors plastered across the walls — a design born from a narcissistic succubus’s need to see her reflection everywhere.

The owner of the mansion, a named succubus named Olivia, could use this setup to her advantage.

Click!

Rohan aimed his gun at a mirror, infused with magic, and fired.

The memory of this dungeon now fully returned, this was the necessary first step.

Bang!

The bullet pierced the mirror, making a clean hole but no significant cracks.

‘It’s not enough.’

Even a magic-laden bullet couldn’t shatter the mirror effectively. Even with Ichinose’s help, destroying all the mirrors would be a significant challenge.

“These aren’t ordinary mirrors. Be careful."

"We shouldn't get too close," Ichinose noted, and Rohan smiled at her, appreciating her trust despite the loud gunshot.

Thud!

One mirror door swung open unexpectedly, and a person walked out — a middle-aged man with a strong gaze, clearly a ward stone, but of a different caliber than those they had encountered so far.

His balanced steps and the imposing aura were truly threatening. His solemn face and dark beard matched the uniform he wore.

─ ...

The sword at his waist emitted a sharp aura, ready to strike at any moment.

Rohan braced for a fight against this unknown figure, while Ichinose spoke up.

"Who is this...?"

"Baby-nose, do you know him?" Rohan asked.

Opening her eyes wide in disbelief, Ichinose continued with a regretful explanation.

"He's a martial artist from Samhwa Country, who went missing recently due to a Monolith."

"Is he skilled?"

"He’s /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ more renowned for training and educating disciples than for his own skill..."

"So, there's a possibility?"

"It’s hard to say how being a ward stone affects him," Ichinose admitted. Without willpower, even a skilled individual’s abilities wouldn’t be fully effective under a succubus's command. She believed that.

“People actually walking into this place by themselves... Today just got interesting,” came a clicking sound as a succubus sauntered out from behind the open mirror door, swaying her hips and tail, whip coiled in hand.

"Uh...?" the succubus exclaimed in surprise upon seeing Rohan.

Such a pattern had become wearisome. Rohan didn't hesitate to fire his gun.

Ping!

The ward stone blocked the bullet meant for the succubus with his sword. The succubus, seemingly unconcerned with the attack, wrapped her slender tail around her thigh and eyed Rohan intently, even making an excited sound.

"How could such a man... Who sent you as a gift? Bianca? Jupi? Those jealous ones wouldn’t send such a man, would they?"

"What are you talking about, you rag?" Rohan retorted, his expression bored.

The succubus, however, seemed to enjoy the defiance, smiling broadly.

"You touched my doll at the entrance, so you deserve to die, but fine! I’ll forgive you. I, Olivia, am generous after all," the succubus declared, her eyes revealing a clear lust to possess Rohan.

Rohan and Ichinose were thoroughly tired of this routine.

And Ichinose felt not just boredom but anger.

'Really...'

As if Rohan’s vitality alone absolves all sins.

"I will forgive all the deeds done," she had said. Based on their experiences, a contract offer would surely follow.

"If you make a contract with me... Eh?"

As the situation unfolded as Ichinose predicted, Olivia’s gaze shifted from Rohan to her.

"This isn’t just energy, is it? What’s this intense smell...?" the succubus sniffed around Ichinose’s mouth, her actions indicating something significant.

‘Could it be...!?’

The secret-harboring girl’s heart pounded as the succubus was about to speak, but Ichinose spoke first.

"Rohan, I’ll handle the succubus."

"Are you sure?"

"Please free him. I’m asking you," Ichinose said with an unprecedented solemn expression.

Rohan nodded in agreement.

"Be careful with the whip. Considering the mirrors, she might use them too."

"Okay."

"Don’t overdo it. I’ll finish up here and join you soon."

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"Don’t worry."

Ichinose stepped forward.

Click!

She grasped the hilt of Yoru, lowering her stance, ready to spring into action at any moment.

And...

With her eyes closed, the girl resolved to use a method only possible because her opponent was a monster.

Before this monster could spill the secrets, she had to erase it.