Rose’s eyes widened with shock—trapped! All the succubi, including herself, were ensnared in the cunning Hero’s trap.

Two small holes opened in the black slime-covered door, allowing thin beams of light to pierce the dark room. But that light brought no hope. Instead, it cast eerie shadows as Anyi stepped forward, holding a candle.

Beside him, in the other hole, stood a petite girl in black, her demeanor calm yet unsettling. The meaning was clear—another Hero had joined the fray.

As they entered, the slime sealed the door behind them, plunging everyone back into the same dark, suffocating space.

"The other rooms have been searched. No additional monsters found," the girl’s soft, almost whispery voice filled the air.

"Confirmed. None outside either," the tall Hero, Layton, added firmly.

The succubi shared a grim, silent thought. 'Of course, all the succubi are here...'

Frustration bubbled beneath their composed faces. 'Caught in a simple trap! How humiliating for a race of high intelligence...'

Rose’s eyes, sharp with suspicion, locked onto Anyi. Out of the two Heroes, it was clear this one was the most dangerous. The tall man was all bluster about "justice" and "protection of humanity," while the girl spoke in such gentle tones that she hardly seemed capable of such a cunning ambush. But Anyi—he had led them all into this trap.

"Is there any purpose in gathering us like this?" Rose's voice was steady, but her heart raced. She had to regain control of the situation.

Anyi’s gaze was as cold as ice. "We are Heroes. We subjugate monsters. Do we need to explain further?"

A chill ran down Rose’s spine. There was no hesitation in his voice, no mercy in his eyes. To him, the succubi before him were already as good as dead.

Rose clenched her fists, stepping in front of the other succubi protectively. "Can you at least tell me your name, Hero-sama?"

"Anyi Carl," he answered without fanfare. No grand titles, no explanations of his abilities. His name alone was all she was getting.

Rose steeled herself. "Anyi Carl, I don’t know what grievance you have against us, but I ask for your mercy. We succubi are not monsters who kill humans. We have coexisted peacefully, running this tavern for decades. Surely, there’s no need for such violence."

Before Anyi could respond, Layton jumped in. "Who’s to say if what you claim is true?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Rose quickly seized the opening. "You can investigate! Check the town’s records—if we were killing humans, there would be countless disappearances and deaths. If you find evidence that contradicts what I’ve said, then you can kill us, and we won’t resist."

Layton paused, considering her words. If the succubi were truly killers, there would have been signs—missing people, strange deaths, more than just the occasional anomaly. And why would monsters who crave death hide in a tavern, year after year, picking off a few victims at a time?

But Miruku, the small Hero beside Anyi, whispered, "She’s just trying to delay us."

Layton’s eyes widened. Of course! Rose’s offer of investigation was a stalling tactic. If they gave her more time, she would find a way to escape.

Rose's expression remained unwavering. "Believe what you will, but I stand by my claim—we succubi do not kill humans."

Anyi’s eyes narrowed, clearly dissatisfied. "The girls told me everything."

He turned to the four succubi who had already been exposed. "Repeat what I said."

The four succubi trembled, huddling together under the weight of Anyi’s cold command. Rose’s gaze turned toward them, her hope now hinging on their silence.

One of the succubi, trembling with fear, finally broke the silence. "Hero-sama... Not killing people won’t save us. Heroes kill monsters by nature. Unless... we’re useful to them."

Rose’s eyes narrowed, fury surging within her. She turned toward Anyi, her voice laced with bitterness. "Are you saying we should betray our kind to save ourselves?"

Anyi gave a small nod. "If you understand, then you're already ahead."

"Damn you!" Rose spat, rage boiling over.

Without warning, a thick pink mist surged from Rose’s body, enveloping her in a flash. Her once modest tavern attire vanished, replaced by a provocative transformation. Her bare skin gleamed, marked with intricate black lines that strategically covered only what was necessary. Bat-like wings unfurled from her back, and a long, sinuous tail extended, the tip shaped like a heart. Twin horns, sharp and menacing, protruded from her head, framing her face, which now radiated pure, lethal allure. Her once human-like eyes had turned black, the pupils reshaped into hearts glowing with an intense pink light.

At that moment, Layton and Miruku received the information:

[Bestiary Unlocked: Succubus

Strength: 3

Agility: 3

Endurance: 3

Durability: 3

Prana: 300

Intelligence: 20

Technique: 15]

"Three... three hundred?!" Layton stammered, disbelief washing over him as his eyes locked onto the Prana stat. Miruku, beside him, inhaled sharply, her senses overwhelmed by the sudden change in the air, a strange, intoxicating scent that made her head spin.

Three hundred Prana! Layton’s mind raced. Ariana, the most powerful mage they had met, only had a Prana stat of 30, and yet, she could summon devastating magic! This succubus standing before them had ten times that power. And there were fifteen more in the room with them.

Fifteen succubi meant the equivalent of 150 Arianas—

Finally snapping into action, Layton summoned his slime armor, covering himself in a thick, protective layer while raising his shield. His instincts screamed to protect Anyi and Miruku, though a cold fear gnawed at the back of his mind—what if his armor couldn’t withstand the coming assault?

Miruku, her legs trembling, was equally shaken. She wanted to run. 'Only three agility?' She reassured herself, 'I can outrun them! I should leave now!'

But before either of them could act further, Rose, now fully transformed, smiled seductively. Her voice, once stern, dripped with a deadly allure. "I didn’t want to fight, but you’ve left me no choice."