The week went by and so did the trials and tribulations. Tribulation was the right word, however, ironically, the succubus beneath Grey was squirming from the pleasure of having her insides rearranged. She was just another one of many. And like all before her, she failed to drain even the tiniest sliver of mana from Grey. That is, she failed at her job, she failed at being succubus. That didn’t mean that she didn’t try her best.

“Give it to me!” She voiced out between her hot breaths. “Release it.” She begged.

“No. Not yet…” Grey groaned.

The failure was mutual. He too, still, didn't learn the ever illusive Drain skill.

The succubus wriggled below him, her muscles contracting and putting a good squeeze. There was no mistake, she was trying to milk Grey and she was damn good at it. However, Grey persevered, he didn’t let his mental guard slip even for a moment. His precious core was tightly guarded.

Even now, he could feel the succubus magic tugging at his core, trying to pull mana out. Just like with others, Grey maintained his guard, never budging and giving up himself to pleasure.

“Ah… I am…” Succubus climaxed. Alone.

Grey ignored her shenanigans. He ignored the feeling of the moistened flesh, the obscene wet sounds filling the air. He ignored her hands caressing his tough skin and the sweat-honeyed sounds escaping from her mouth.

They were not done. He was not done.

Instead, he gathered what remained of his mental strength and moved for an attack. He visualised his mana core in his mind. In the self-imposed illusion, it was empty and devoid of mana. It was hungry, no, it was starving for sustenance. It was like a black crystal sucking everything inside it, not even light could escape.

Also, there was this other core. The one belonging to the woman beneath him. It was red and pulsating. It was filled with pink thoughts and desires very similar to hunger – it was lust.

And the two were at war.

Grey did what he had been practising for what seemed ages. He pulled at the red core trying to invade it. He wanted to get inside and ravish it, to take every last droplet of mana for himself.

“Mine! Mine!” Grey muttered ruthlessly slamming at the woman beneath him.

If anyone would be there to witness it, they would gasp at the sight. That, and they would worry about the woman beneath this beast, the beast who had no qualms about injuring her comparatively minuscule body.

Regardless, the woman in question seemed to be ecstatic about the brutal act. She melted beneath the monster and her eyes rolled up exposing whites.

“Ah… U. Need. Wah. Eh-Eh… Gah.” Incomprehensible gibberish escaped from her mouth.

She tightened. She tightened so much it hurt to move. But at that moment her mind was the weakest.

The succubus wanted him. She desired his every last drop. Due to their close bond Grey could feel all that, and more. To deny her release was like torture. And, It wouldn’t be wrong to say that she was charmed by Grey, albeit in a perverse and convoluted way.

Grey willed his core to tug at hers. Even, better, he willed it to rip the red crystal to shreds. To break its wall, and pilage the succulent essence of mana.

“Mmm.” Grey too tensed up.

The pair were moaning and groaning like feral animals in heat.

And then… Obviously. Finally. In the end.

He could feel the sweet delicious stream of mana flowing into his near-empty core. It was ecstasy sublime.

“Ahh!” Grey muttered in satisfaction.

At that time the succubus was completely and utterly broken both in body and in mind.

Unable, and unwilling to control himself, Grey increased his efforts. The small flow of mana turned to a torrent. He took it, he took it all. He drained the succubus empty.

Which, at that point, the poor woman found her release and then passed out.

“Finally.

With no need at having their cores connected any longer, Grey pulled away from her. He looked at his work with a satisfied face.

“Justice! Ha-Ha.” He laughed cheerfully.

The irony was there still beneath him. The succubus drained by their own original drain magic.

He had it, he learned Drain.

However, the celebration was only a small one. Even by draining her empty, he filled his core no more than by a tenth. It seemed there was quite a big loss in the transfer. But, who cared? Didn’t he have a full house of succubi to drain? To strip them of their dignity and mana! He will do just so. He will fill will himself to the heart's content…

…

The queen was sitting behind the desk with her arms crossed. Her face was stern and her gaze cold.

“No! You can’t have any more of my girls.”

“I am willing to pay like any regular customer.” Grey reasoned.

“No! You broke them.”

“Since then that was a problem? I will pay double, no, triple even.”

“No, no, no.” The queen shook her head.

“But, why? What changed?”

“You did the improbable and learned the skill.”

“So?”

“So… He says. What do you think is the point of succubus offering their services?”

“Ah…” It dawned to Grey.

“Yeah, I need them to collect the energy. A drained succubus is of no use to me.”

“But I can pay. Name the price.”

“You don’t understand…” The queen sighed at the feeling of going in loops. “I am the Queen. And it is the queen’s exclusive privilege to drain their subjects. I’m not having you going and undermining my position.”

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Grey felt like arguing.

The queen didn't let him start such things, and continued.

“Congratulation on learning what should be impossible. Really. Well done. But as far as I am concerned we are now done and square. Are we not? Are you someone who goes back on their word?” She gave Grey a judging look.

“…” He thought for a bit. “No. I am not. We are square. But is there no other way for me to…” He didn’t get to finish.

“No! Not here. And not from my subjects.”

“I see…” Grey sighted. “So, should I let myself out then?”

“That’s a good idea.” The queen said while clutching her necklace in her palm.

Grey turned to leave. It felt bad. He found something akin to a treasure, but then just as quickly as he found it, it was taken away. But in the retrospect, he learned something very valuable.

Just before he left. “Thanks…” He said something he never says. “Thanks for all the help. I will treasure this skill greatly.”

The cold queen thawed but only a tiny bit. “You are welcome. And be careful, this is a dangerous skill.”

“I will.”

And so they parted.

Grey could understand her animosity. After all, he took her subjects for playthings. He drained them dry to fill his core. If only he was able to restrain just a little. But how could he? He felt like a boy with a new toy. And the toy was actually not a toy at all. It was a weapon able to break others. The damage of course was mostly mental and temporary. Yet, needless to say, the casualties were still there.

“Will that only work on succubi?” Grey wondered out loud as he made his way out.

…

The queen breathed a deep breath of relief. In doing so she slumped back into her cushy chair and directed her attention to the receptionist who was also her secretary in charge.

“How are the girls?” She asked betraying worry in her voice.

“Actually…” the secretary paused uncomfortably. “The first few who woke up described it as the best experience in their short lives.”

“That’s what I was afraid of.” She frowned. “The nature of us succubi, no one can change it. Trivialities aside, are they still good to work?”

“Hmm…” The secretary gave it a good thought. “To keep the average customers happy it is best if they refrain from full service, but otherwise aside from soreness, they’re fine. Let them take it easy and their cores will be back to full in a few days.”

“Let’s do that then.”

“And, how about the peacekeeper?”

“Him… Don’t let him touch any of our girls. And get someone to keep an eye on him.”

“Someone like a spy? Is he a threat?”

“Yes a spy, spare no expense. And no, I don’t think he’s a threat. But he is dangerous. Let’s just observe him for now.”

The secretary nodded in agreement. “So how come did he learn the skill? Is he a demon like us? But even then…”

“Yes, it was surprising he got the technique right, but he is no demon. While he has the mana core similar to us, from what I tasted, his is more that of a monster.”

“Monster?”

“Highly evolved monster. He might be a rare variant of sorts.”

“But that would make him dangerous!”

“Not to us. Humans maybe. Isn’t that perfect? If he steps out of the line all we have to do is expose him. Let humans know he has a core and they will be very quick in branding him as a monster worthy of extermination.”

“Despite the ongoing mascarade, these humans are a xenophobic bunch.” The secretary added her remark.

“That they are. We’re good for them only as disposable labour, or holes for cheap pleasure.”

Saying that the queen produced another necklace out of one of her desk drawers.

“That is?”

“Protection. Wear it at all times.”

The secretary took the expensive necklace and put it over her neck.

“Mind magic resistance? What for?”

“Grey… He might be a mind mage.”

“Somehow that makes sense…”

“Mhm.” The queen hummed imitating a wisened sage. “His resistance is uncanny. My charm barely works on him.“

“No! For Succubus Queen Charm to fail…”

“What if, his mental attacks are of the same magnitude?”

The secretary grabbed for the necklace tightly. Expression of horror was plastered on her face.

…

While Grey was walking down the busy street heading for his lair, his head was full of thoughts. Hypothetically he had a way to fill his core without needing to eat a mage. The glaring issue was that he had to get his hands on a willing succubus.

“But does it have to be a succubus?” He spoke to himself while walking.

He rubbed his chin in thought. Well, obviously, they didn’t need to be succubi. He should be able to drain just about anyone.

“As longs as they were charmed… or willing.”

That was the downside of the skill. A major hurdle. After all, he wasn’t a mind mage.

“Can I learn such a skill? But even then, who would even teach me that.”

The University existed in this city, but as far as he knew only humans were allowed to attend it.

“Mmm? What skill are you trying to learn?” A redhead youth asked cheekily.

“Char…”He had almost said it. “Elri? What are you doing here?”

“What? Now I can’t even take a casual stroll without being questioned. I am not stalking you or anything.”

“So?”

“So, you could be more polite and greet me properly!”

Usually, people kept their distance away from him so Grey frowned at being ambushed by the shrimpy girl like this.

“Greetings, Elri.” He gave his signature toothy grin in an attempt to scare her away. “What do you want?”

The runt pouted. “Why do you assume I want something?”

“You don’t?”

“No!”

“Well. Then goodbye, Elri.”

“No! Wait.”

Grey ignored the shrimpy youth and continued on his journey. Or, at least he tried. She stuck to his side defiantly.

“I’ve heard you cleared the whole ork camp?”

“That I did.”

“Amazing!”

Grey shrugged it was an easy job.

“And you did it alone, no?”

Grey didn’t answer because she wasn’t really asking, only stating.

“Meaning you still have no party! How so?”

“I don’t need one. And I am spending most of my time peacekeeping the city.”

“So you quit adventuring?”

“No, not quite. Why?” He asked since she clearly wanted something from him.

“Well, my father has finally lifted my ban on adventuring. I have people for my party but I still need someone to take a tank role.”

“A tank?”

“Yeah, to guard and take damage for me. Interested? Of course, I will pay.”

“I am kinda busy.”

“Come on! I know you are trying to obtain a skill or technique of sorts, wouldn't extra money help to buy a trainer?”

“It’s not about money. I have money. The problem is that no-one would even teach me that.”

“What skill is it?”

Grey deliberated if he should tell her.

“Charm.”

“Ha! Ha-Ha.” She began laughing in his face.

Rude! If only she wasn’t a noble, Grey would eat her. He gave her a death stare.

“Wait, you were serious? I kinda get why you would want to learn that. Aside from the fact that the spell is illegal, wouldn’t it be impossible since you aren't even a mage?”

“It’s illegal? So even the University?”

“Even if anyone had such a precious spell, no one in the right mind would teach it. You would have to part with gold equal to a dragon's hoard to obtain something like that. ”

Elri patted Grey’s leg compassionately. “I get, I get it. But really, if you just were more social people would see your true worth. It’s not just about looks. Just try to be less intimidating perhaps?”

“Eh? Being intimidating works in my advantage. That’s not why I need the Charm skill.”

“Charm spell.” Elri corrected.

Damn, she was annoying.

“So why? Oh… I get it.” She smiled at him cheekily.

“What?”

“He-he.” Elri nudged him with her elbow.

“What?”

“You have a lady in your eye.”

She wasn’t completely wrong but even then… “No!” Grey denied.

“No need to be embarrassed. If you don’t want to tell me you don’t have to, but I am all yours for advice. Oh and before you ask, no, love potions aren't real either.”

“I see.”

The conversation died down and Elri didn’t try to pester him to join her party anymore, however, that didn’t mean she wasn’t a pest. She continued to follow him.

Grey glanced back over his shoulder at the annoying runt. She wasn’t even trying to be casual about it.

“Stalker!” He accused.

“No, I am not! We are just going in the same direction.”

If Grey made a turn she was making a turn. She WAS following him.

“Where are you going?” He finally asked.

“To see that elf of yours.”

Grey gave a suspicious look. But then, he didn’t care too much. His lair wasn’t secret or anything, and if the she-devil had some dealings with mages or nobles it probably was related to her work anyway.

“Huh!” Grey exclaimed.

Something was terribly off. The two guards who were supposed to watch the entrance were missing from their posts, leaving the doors open. Shouting and sounds of the fight were coming from deeper inside.

Grey rushed towards the sound, Elri right in tow. He ran past a bleeding beastkin nursing a nasty slash on his side.

“Boss, downstairs!”

The fighting was happening on the basement floor, the place where he kept his food.

“Shit!” Grey panicked.

Either someone escaped or someone was trying to liberate his food out of their cages. Not willing to bother with the stairs he just leapt down clearing the set of stairs. The floor tiles of course cracked under his weight, but in retrospect, he made quite an entrance.

“Boss!”, “Right on time!” The two of his hired minions exclaimed in relief.

Grey scanned the basement. Two of the captive girls were still in cages. Which was good. But there was a still hot body of one of his helpers; his throat slashed clean. Next to the corpse was the culprit himself. A type of rogue, an assassin perhaps. He wore a tight black leather suit, his face hidden by the cowl. A nasty mithril dagger in his hand dripped fresh blood.