Chapter 21: A Succubus Advancement Manual?

Lilia stared at the black-covered book, her mind a complete mess.

Succubus Advancement Manual: How to Turn Innate Gifts into Weapons?

She flipped the book over and back again, making sure she hadn’t misread the title, and then felt like her whole world had collapsed.

What the hell!

She was a former Hero, and now it was bad enough to be stuck with cat ears and a cat tail. Did she really have to learn all this Succubus nonsense too?

Lilia threw the book onto the bed and buried herself under the covers for a long time.

Her mind was filled with all the embarrassing moments from tonight in front of Carmillo.

The way that vampire looked at her, like she was some strange curiosity.

She clenched her fist.

No.

If this went on any longer, she’d really end up as nothing but a complete toy in Lucia’s hands.

Lilia crawled out from under the blanket and grabbed the book.

She opened to the first page.

Elegant, ancient script greeted her eyes:

“For our kind, allure is not a means to tempt others into corruption, but an instinct that arises from the depths of the soul.”

“To fight against instinct is foolish. Only by mastering instinct can one become truly powerful.”

Mastering instinct.

Lilia bit her lip.

She kept reading.

The book divided allure into three stages.

Stage One: Unconscious Display.

This was exactly her current state.

Whenever she got nervous, her tail puffed up; when she was shy, her ears twitched wildly. Every emotion showed plainly on her face.

In front of Lucia, she was completely transparent.

Lilia flipped the page furiously.

Stage Two: Conscious Disguise.

“Learn to control your bodily reactions, using instinctive camouflage to mislead your enemies.”

“Entice your opponent to let down their guard with a submissive posture.”

…..

Lilia’s eyes lit up.

Disguise?

She could pretend to be submissive, pretend to be tamed.

Then, when Lucia relaxed, she’d hit her with something fierce!

This approach—it could work!

She sat up straight, spread the book across her lap, and began to study seriously.

The book detailed how to control every muscle in your body, every tiny reaction.

How to adjust your breathing to steady your heartbeat.

How to convey different messages through subtle changes in your gaze.

And a whole bunch of “little tricks” for gaining trust by using your physical advantages.

Leaning forward slightly when speaking, to show attentive listening.

Touching the back of someone’s hand in passing, to give comfort when they were feeling down.

Looking up with pure, innocent eyes when making a request.

Lilia read as she practiced in her mind.

Although these moves seemed… a little green tea.

But right now, she couldn’t afford to care about that.

Lucia only responded to softness, not to force.

Her previous attempts to resist with puffed-up defiance had only led to harsher suppression and more humiliating punishment.

Maybe changing her strategy would actually work.

The more Lilia read, the more awake she became.

She jumped off the bed and went to the mirror.

The silver-haired loli in the mirror had cat ears, a dragging cat tail, and two dark circles under her eyes.

Absolutely pitiful.

Lilia took a deep breath and started practicing.

First, expression control.

She smiled at the mirror, sweet and harmless, like a perfectly innocent creature.

The cat ears on her head twitched cooperatively.

Her tail behind her swayed lightly.

No good.

Too forced.

She started over, this time only lifting the corners of her mouth a little, eyes curving into gentle crescents.

Much more natural.

Next, the voice.

“Good morning, nya~”

Too sharp.

“Good morning, nya.”

Too flat.

“Good morning… nya~”

Yes, that was the right tone.

Soft, but not overdone.

Lilia practiced in front of the mirror all night.

Smiling, speaking, even walking so her tail swayed just right.

She even tried out the book’s techniques by “acting cute” at her reflection.

Every time she practiced, her face turned red.

So damn embarrassing.

But she grit her teeth and kept going.

By the time the sky turned pale, Lilia had practically worn out the book.

Her mind was crammed with all sorts of “practical techniques.”

She collapsed onto the bed and stared at the ceiling.

Lucia, just wait.

I’ll make you taste what it’s like to be manipulated, too.

The next morning.

There was a knock at the door.

“Miss, it’s time for breakfast.”

Lilith entered, carrying a tray.

She had just set the tray on the table when a soft, sweet voice called from behind.

“Good morning, Lilith onee-chan, nya~!”

Lilith’s hand froze.

She turned around.

Lilia stood by the bed, dark circles under her eyes but a bright, sweet smile on her face.

Cat ears twitching softly.

Tail swaying behind her.

She looked unbelievably well-behaved.

“Miss, you—”

“Lilith onee-chan, thank you for your hard work, nya.”

Lilia stepped forward, trying to take the tray.

“How could I let onee-chan do such chores, nya?”

She even blinked her heterochromatic eyes—one gold, one blue.

Lilith stared at her for several seconds.

This little thing…

Yesterday she was lifeless, and now suddenly she’s like this?

“Miss, please eat.”

Lilith set the tray on the table and stepped aside.

“Okay, nya! Thank you, Lilith onee-chan, nya.”

Lilia sat down and picked up the knife and fork.

She deliberately slowed her movements, eating in small bites like a properly raised noble cat.

Lilith stood nearby, watching her expressionlessly.

This little one learns fast.

Except…

Lilith’s gaze fell to Lilia’s hands.

Her fingers gripping the utensils were so tense that her knuckles were white.

She was faking it.

After breakfast, Lilia took the initiative to clean up.

“Lilith onee-chan, I’ll take care of these, nya.”

“No need, Miss.”

“It’s fine, nya.”

Lilia held the tray, looking up at Lilith.

“Onee-chan, I thought about it a lot last night, nya.”

She paused.

“I’ve really been too immature before, nya. Always causing trouble for Master and for you, onee-chan, nya.”

“I’ve decided. From today on, I want to be a good, obedient child, nya. I’ll work hard and not make Master angry anymore, nya.”

Lilia’s tone was sincere.

The cat ears on her head drooped, signaling repentance.

Lilith was silent for a few seconds.

“If you think that way, Miss, that’s for the best.”

There was no emotion in her voice.

“Then… does Master have any plans today? Nya?”

Lilia asked tentatively.

“Is there anything you need me to do? Nya?”

She was itching to run to Lucia and test out her newly learned tricks.

“Her Majesty is going to the Ironblack Mountains today to inspect the new Magitech Armament production line.”

Lilia’s smile froze.

To the Ironblack Mountains?

Did that mean she wouldn’t see Lucia today?

“Yes.”

Lilith nodded.

“Her Majesty said you can move freely within Evernight Palace today.”

She paused.

“However, before she left, Her Majesty left you a task.”

“What task? Nya?”

Lilia perked up instantly.

Lilith raised her hand.

A huge pile of yarn balls appeared out of thin air, heaped on the floor.

Red, yellow, blue, green.

Each one was tangled into a knotted mess, like bundles of deadlocked rope.

“Her Majesty instructed that before she returns, she hopes to see all these yarn balls untangled and neatly rolled up again.”

Lilia stared at the pile of yarn.

The smile faded from her face, bit by bit.

She stared at the colorful “mountain” on the floor, and only one thought filled her mind—

Lucia, you pervert!

She did it on purpose!

Absolutely on purpose!

She’d studied the “allure manual” all night.

Practiced her acting until dawn.

Prepared to unleash her “gentle and obedient” charm on Lucia today.

And what happened?

Lucia ran off to the Ironblack Mountains!

And left her this pile of yarn balls as humiliation!

Lilia’s tail froze in midair.

“Miss?”

Lilith looked at her.

“Do you need me to prepare tools for you?”