The time frame is the usual, and the perspective is from Suzumoto.
Shady ladies (or not) and monsters appear.
Pretty much everything is wrong with this story. It’s highly likely that your image of the characters will be greatly shattered, so it’s recommended that you read with strong resolve or not read at all.
…Why did it come to this, I now deeply ponder.
Right now, in front of us, there are eight seductive-looking female demons… should I call them succubi?
If I were to assign a reason to the start of this mess, it would be the usual “since we’re here.” That “since we’re here” led us to visit the mysterious old castle on the mysterious island next to Itoigawa-senpai’s country.
Looking back now, we shouldn’t have invoked the “since we’re here” to come to a place like this, and we should have ignored Kadomi-kun’s excited declaration of “I found a strange castle…” as well as ignoring Maito’s enthusiasm to “bring a lunch and have a picnic!” and ignoring President’s suggestion that “we should explore, just in case there are students here.”
But at that time, we didn’t know what would become of us in the future. Ah, yes. Hindsight is 20/20. Regret always comes later.
“Whoa, it’s dark! I can see, though!”
As soon as we entered the castle, what greeted us was darkness. A castle filled with darkness. It reeked of danger, no matter how you looked at it.
“…There are no windows.”
The reason it was so dark was because there were no windows. Ah, the only light coming in was from the door we opened. It was definitely strange, but even so, we didn’t retreat.
“Kariya, can you handle this?”
“Oh, yes. ‘Light orb.’ …How about this, it’s bright now, right?”
“What are you bragging about without even paying the cost of setting a thousand-yen bill on fire?”
Kariya easily brought light, illuminating the room. …Apparently, the room we entered right from the main entrance was a grand hall. The sight of the marble floor with carpets laid out and the somewhat crumbling but still sturdy stone pillars gave it the atmosphere of a castle. Frankly, it was neither more nor less than that.
“Shall we move on? I’ll take the lead.”
“Yes, we should. There might be something, so let’s have Toriumi take the lead.”
“Alright, let’s go then.”
Unfortunately, we have power. This power we obtained when we came to another world is, well… for better or worse, it protects us and gives us a means to fight. And with the means to fight, we become somewhat insensitive to dangers. That’s exactly our “since we’re here”…
“Maito-san, would it be better for you to wait outside?”
…Because there’s someone here who came along with the motivation of “bringing a lunch and having a picnic,” we haven’t strayed too far from being human, and thanks to that, we haven’t ended up flying to the ends of the universe. This person would die if they went to space.
However.
“Yeah, I’ll wait outside…”
As soon as Maito said that.
With a heavy sound, the door closed completely.
The closed door didn’t budge. Hagasaki-kun was about to unleash his strongest technique, but I stopped him. Even if it was to break down the door, if he used “Niflheim” here, we’d freeze to death. Especially Maito.
“…In this case, wouldn’t it be better if I didn’t wait here?”
“…Yes. Since we can’t get out, it’s safer for you to stick with us. Maito-san, you take the rear.”
“Thank you…”
As Maito quietly moved to the back, Kadomi-kun covered even further behind her. This meant they were preparing for an attack from behind. It’s a formation we always use, so it didn’t feel strange. Maito… well, I thought it wouldn’t make much difference whether she was here or not at this point.
But.
“Okay, let’s enter the room.”
With Toriumi saying that, we moved forward through the grand hall with Kariya’s “light orb” and entered another wide room.
…As I said at the beginning, in the room we advanced to, there were eight succubi.
This is something I must regret bringing Maito along for.
As we were stunned, we heard the sound of a lock clicking behind us.
And then.
“Welcome! Enjoy yourselves!”
“You guys, you’ve come this far. There’s no way you’re leaving without doing anything, right?”
“We’re starving! If you don’t give us food, we’re not letting you leave!”
…While saying such things, the succubi approached us. No, to be precise, three of them approached us. A girl who looked like a high school student in a blazer, a girl in a kimono using somewhat old-fashioned language, and one in a cheongsam.
“What do you mean by ‘not letting us leave’?”
“Just as it sounds. We’ve sealed this place. If you don’t give us food, you won’t be able to get out of here. …You’d better not try to use force. Who knows what could happen?”
With a sweet and seductive voice, the succubus in the cheongsam gazed at us longingly. …What the heck.
“Things like this happen–just like in ero manga. Yeah! In another world!”
Toriumi had the expression of someone who had completely let go. Impressive. You really are something…
“Being hungry, does that mean if we give you some food, it will be fine?”
Trying to enter into a rational dialogue, President asked the succubus.
“Well? We’re succubi, right? So you know what we want to eat, right…?”
…This left us speechless.
Succubi are… demons of lust. Yeah. Even I have that much knowledge of fantasy. Damn it.
“So, is it okay now? Hey, I can’t wait any longer…”
The succubi continued to edge closer to us.
“Alright, alright, block, block.”
Toriumi, at the front, pushed back the blazer-wearing succubus with a shield. Hang in there. I’m a bit overwhelmed right now.
“No good comes from resisting. Just enjoy yourselves with us.”
But from the side of Toriumi’s shield, the kimono-wearing succubus slipped through.
“It won’t feel bad, right? From the looks of it, you guys are of the age where you’re interested in such things, aren’t you? …And more importantly, we’ve all changed our forms to match your preferences.”
As she said this, the girl in the kimono poked at Toriumi’s chest.
…At that moment.
“Hmm? Preferences? Huh?”
Toriumi tilted his head.
“Well, I’m not really into loli-babas.”
…Wait.
Wait, hold on a minute!
“…Wait a second!”
I frantically tried to confirm.
“…Changing your form to match preferences…are you sure there’s no mistake?”
“Hmm? Yes. I don’t know which one of you I’m transforming for but we do it just by sensing your presence. If I could see you one-on-one, I could transform more accurately to match your exact tastes…”
…There was nothing but despair in the succubus’ words.
“So, the ones at the back too, they’re based on someone’s preference?”
Three succubi were approaching us.
There were five succubi towards the back of the room.
One in a long maid’s dress with long black hair giving a neat impression, one with glasses looking like a quiet type, one with cat ears taking a bath with a shy demeanor… and one clearly not human, more like a doll, bound in handcuffs, and one that wasn’t exactly a cat or dog but an animated mascot-like one, slightly plump.
…the first two were fine, but I couldn’t understand from the middle, and the last two were just, what the hell!
“Wow, such pretty ladies… oh, but there are some who aren’t ladies…”
Behind me, Maito peeked and sparkled with excitement at the seductive succubi. …Oh boy.
“Hey, Maito. Are you into this kind of stuff…?”
“Oh, don’t mind me!”
…I mind. Even if she doesn’t, I do.
“Hariru. Do it.”
“Huh? Ah, okay. Got it.”
Then Hariru swiped the classroom gem from Maito and expanded the classroom on the spot. Apparently, the classroom was the one Maito had turned into a food storage or snack place. Hariru then shoved Maito inside.
“Ahh!? What are you doing?!”
“What are you doing? That’s my line, you idiot.”
“You’re so mean, Hagasaki-kun! I have the right to look at beautiful ladies too! And that strange creature! I’m curious! What is that thing?!”
“Shut up.”
Yeah, it’s definitely a strange creature. And knowing it’s a succubus in disguise makes it even stranger. Ah.
…What is that thing? Whose taste is that supposed to match…? My head hurts.
For now, we’ve shoved Maito into the room, so that’s settled. Sorry, Maito, but it’s awkward to have you here.
“…So, what do we do about this?”
We decided to take some time to discuss our situation and now we’re standing in a huddle.
“The door won’t open, should we comply with their demands?”
President seemed on the verge of giving up. Is that okay? Well, maybe that’s the only option we have…
“Hmm… Well, I thought it might be okay. I mean, it’s another world, so stuff like this could happen, right?”
“You shouldn’t think that way. What the hell is that? What’s with that fat fantasy beast?”
“Yeah, I don’t get that either…”
There are eight of us if you exclude Maito. And there are eight succubi. Of those, three aren’t human, including the cat-eared one. One of them isn’t even humanoid. Why?
But setting that aside… No, we shouldn’t rush into this. I know that. But…
“…Hey, there’s something I was wondering.”
In the midst of this, Hariru said something after thinking hard.
“Who likes which one?”
“You’re not supposed to ask that…”
Hagasaki-kun had a complicated expression. Yeah, I get it. We should have quietly let this pass. That’s what I think too.
“Well… if there are preferences, should we try matching up?”
President, calm and serious as always, suggested, but honestly, it might be better to say nothing at this point.
“For the record, I like the cat-eared girl in the bath.”
I see. Toriumi is a pervert. Got it.
“And Katori likes the glasses girl, right? I get it.”
“Yeah. I figured you’d understand. Yeah.”
Katori’s preferences are pretty well-known, so there’s nothing more to say here. No need for deductions or questions. Ah.
“For the record, I think all of them are good!”
“That’s not helpful at all…”
“Wait a second! You mean you’re okay with the restrained doll and the less human-looking beast too!?”
“Whoa! Now that I think about it, trying to be nonchalant actually makes it the most problematic statement!”
Kariya is a pervert. Without a doubt. It’s over. I had a hunch, but this club is full of perverts.
“But seriously, isn’t it difficult? Figuring out which one matches your taste?”
When Toriumi said that, Kariya nodded vigorously next to him. Stop it. Your reason is probably different from Toriumi’s.
“I rather like catgirl characters, but they’re not exactly my favorite. Dolls and fat anthropomorphic characters are a bit much for me, but I can go for pretty much anything else. Oh, but if possible, I prefer short hair over long hair, so keep that in mind.”
“Ah, yeah. Honestly, blazers, long black hair maids, and cat ears are probably good for anyone, right? I’m fine with any of those. Haha.”
“No, Hariu is definitely into loli grannies.”
“There are others who like loli grannies besides me. Right? There are, right?”
“It seems like we don’t have any Chinese-themed characters… I wonder whose preference that is…”
…My head started to hurt.
“…Alright, I’ll come out with it.”
Amidst this, President raised his hand swiftly.
“I’m into dolls and bondage. If anyone wants to challenge that, speak now.”
…This isn’t a game of Werewolf, you know!?
“No challengers, I see. So, that means the succubus disguised as a doll transformed based on my preferences.”
“I feel like I’ve heard something I shouldn’t have…”
“What? President? Are you serious? Are you sane?”
“I am sane.”
When a madman claims sanity, it holds no weight. That much I understood clearly.
“…That succubus doll, um, it has handcuffs on.”
“That’s also to my taste.”
“…Uh, the handcuffs, they don’t have keyholes and seem to be welded shut…”
“Wonderful.”
“It’s a doll in the first place though…”
“Indeed.”
…Can I pretend I didn’t hear any of this?
“Ah, it’s nice, I get it.”
What is with Kariya’s broad range of interests?
“So, that’s one out of eight down. There are seven people and seven characters left…”
Don’t fill it. Stop filling it. I don’t want to hear anything more.
However, surprisingly, Kadomi-kun raised his hand.
“Ah, I… I’m not really into Chinese-themed characters…”
“I see. Then, how about fat anthropomorphic characters?”
“That’s out of the question.”
Kadomi-kun declared firmly, which was rare for him.
“Uh, anyone else into glasses characters? If not, we’ll have six people and six characters.”
“…Honestly, I haven’t decided my preferences completely, so I’ll hold off. Honestly, I prefer glasses over Chinese-themed.”
I see. There’s definitely Katori who likes glasses, but I understand Hagasaki-kun’s point as well.
“Then, how about Kariya for the fat anthropomorphic character?”
“Me? Sure.”
Is that really okay with you? Are you truly fine with that?
“Oh, but if someone else prefers that character, I’ll step aside.”
“I don’t think anyone else would…”
“That’s fine, isn’t it? That refined face and demeanor, yet such a sloppy body!”
I don’t understand. I don’t understand anything anymore. The world is vast. That’s the only thing I understand.
“Hey, could you hurry up and decide already?”
Eventually, the high school girl succubus came to hurry us up.
“What are you hesitating about? If you’re indecisive, you can switch partners as many times as you like.”
Moreover, she came to hurry us with an outrageous suggestion. As expected of a succubus. I could only be amazed.
“If you have preferences, we can do various things. Do you like bondage? Do you like candles? Either way is fine. We also take setting requests! Childhood friends, teachers, older sisters, younger sisters, princesses, knights—anything! Which one do you want!?”
A professional. I see. A professional indeed. I wish she would use that professional spirit for something else.
“Uh, do you have any preferences yourself?”
And then, Kadomi-kun, in true amateur spirit, asked such a question.
“No.”
…A curt answer. Professionalism is a double-edged sword. Ah, I wish for a bit more emotional warmth.
“We don’t have the luxury to say such things. We, too, have been sealed in such a remote place for a long time. We haven’t eaten in ages, so we’re starving… just starving…”
The so-called loli granny succubus said this with a sorrowful look and then suddenly seemed to have an idea.
“That’s right. If you all don’t like it, you can even use that girl from before. Hurry up and bring her out.”
…Wait. Hold on a second.
“Uh, succubus, can you also handle girls?”
“Of course. We’re starving. So hurry up.”
…Wait. So, does this mean… that the eight succubi here were originally here, and then the nine of us, including Maito, came along, and then the succubi transformed into the preferences of random eight people, including Maito?
Which means… is there a succubus here that fits Maito’s preferences too!?
“The premise of this fetish werewolf game has collapsed.”
“Ah… I didn’t intend to play werewolf, but it suggests the possibility that Maito is a huge pervert…”
“So, Maito’s preference is that fat beast character? I see…”
“No, I think that’s Kariya’s…”
…The fat beast is one thing, but other characters could certainly fit. Maito is that kind of person… with unusual tastes. We never really understood the extent of his preferences. So, it’s entirely possible that his preferences are reflected here…
While we were confused again, it happened.
“Master.”
My sleeve was suddenly pulled. Startled, I looked over to see a long black-haired maid succubus looking at me with moist eyes.
“Please, show me mercy…”
…I’m the one who needs mercy.
“Hey, I’m hungry…”
Moreover, Hagasaki-kun was frozen, being nudged by a pitiful-looking Chinese succubus.
“Big brother… please…”
A cat-eared girl approached Kadomi-kun, who started wiping her ears with a towel. No, this isn’t the time to be taking care of her.
Additionally, a high school girl succubus who had been acting tough earlier now approached shyly, a mysterious fat beast rubbed up against me, a glasses-wearing succubus approached, blushing and trembling, and the doll began moving. In the meantime, each of us was being approached by a succubus. This was bad. This was really bad, but… should we just give in…?
At that moment.
“Uh, how about we have a meal first? You know, they say you can’t fight on an empty stomach, and you won’t have energy without eating…”
The sliding door creaked open awkwardly, and Maito peeked out from the food storage or snack area.
…Holding a basket with lunch in it.
“Today’s dessert is milk pudding.”
She said, as she stepped forward.
…In conclusion.
We were released without the succubi doing anything to us or us doing anything to them.
The reason was simple.
“Succubi really do love milk, don’t they…”
…Inside the basket Maito had brought, there was a dessert: milk pudding. Apparently, this caught the succubi’s attention… The succubi decided to take all the milk pudding from Maito’s snack stash as a settlement. And so, we were safely released.
“Hehe… It’s nice to see cute ladies enjoy the food I made so much…”
…After returning from the castle, Maito was smiling as she made more milk pudding, which had run out of stock. I don’t understand what’s making her so happy.
“…I wonder if I should have taken the plunge back there.”
Meanwhile, I’m here, oddly drained and rambling.
“No, it’s good you didn’t. They were monsters, after all.”
“Honestly, I thought, even if they’re monsters, it’d be fine… We can’t really afford to be picky.”
“Ah, yeah. Especially catgirls, they’re absolutely not in the real world… Ah, maybe I missed my chance…”
Well, probably. …But thinking it was a missed opportunity feels like losing, so I can’t let myself think that way.
“By the way, Maito-san, who did you like the most among them?”
Amidst our unresolved, muddled feelings, Toriumi asked Maito such a question. Maito stopped cooking, seemed to ponder a bit, and then began to answer.
“Me? Hmm… I thought that maid was cute. Also, I quite liked the Chinese girl. She looked really cute when eating milk pudding. I’ve always sort of liked Chinese-themed characters. And catgirls aren’t really my thing. But I do like loli grannies, especially Japanese-themed loli grannies… Hmm, I can’t decide.”
…I see.
“Everyone, forget about today. I’m going to forget it.”
I’m done thinking. I can’t. I’m exhausted. Extremely exhausted.
…From now on, I should refrain from acting on whims like “since we’re here.” Otherwise, I’ll end up learning things I don’t want to know. Ah. I’ve had enough.
“Well, today was a tough day. So, where are we going next?”
“Oh, I found a weird place the other day!”
“Then let’s go there tomorrow.”
No, you guys should learn from this! Please!