Chapter 181 : New Assistant

Lucy ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍followed behind Lilia, her steps light and brisk. She not only imagined a spacious and bright laundry room, but even fantasized about whether there might be one of those automatically heated dryers inside.

Even ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍without magic, even if it was just watering those carnivorous plants that looked terrifying but stayed still once they were fed, she could accept it.

After ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍all, this was “simple, easy, and completely risk-free” logistics work!

Lilia ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍stopped in front of a heavy black oak door.

Lucy ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍immediately stepped forward eagerly, wanting to push the door open for her “boss,” and at the same time show off her awareness as a top-tier worker.

“Lady ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Lilia, let me handle this kind of rough work!”

Lucy chuckled, using both hands to push the door open.

“Creak—”

As the heavy hinges turned, a thick, almost choking scent of cosmetics hit Lucy’s face like a wall.

Lucy’s smile froze on her face.

The laundry room, the big broom, or the sun-filled greenhouse she had imagined—none of them were there.

What came into view was a dim, chaotic, and even suffocatingly smoky room.

Several massive desks were scattered haphazardly, piled high with precarious mountains of documents.

But that wasn’t the most terrifying part.

The most terrifying part was the creatures inside the room.

More than a dozen female Succubus, dressed provocatively with outrageously curvy figures, were slumped inelegantly in their chairs. Some were touching up their makeup in mirrors, while others were scribbling wildly across documents with feather pens, muttering curses under their breath.

At the sound of the door opening, over a dozen pairs of peach-colored glowing eyes turned in unison.

Succubi.

An entire room full of succubi.

Lucy’s knees instantly went weak. If she hadn’t grabbed the doorframe, she would have already dropped to her knees before these “big sisters.”

As a reserve hero from the Church (even if she had only been feeding pigs), she knew all too well how terrifying this kind of creature was. These were the Abyssal succubi rumored to drain grown men dry, leaving not even marrow behind!

“Oh? Our Inspector has arrived?”

A red-haired succubus sitting in the center, her legs propped up on the desk, let out a whistle. But her gaze passed over Lilia and locked directly onto Lucy.

She licked her crimson lips. To Lucy, that motion looked exactly like a wolf staring at a helpless rabbit.

Lucy felt a chill shoot straight up her spine!

Lilia ignored the succubi’s predatory gazes as if they wanted to strip Lucy alive and devour her. She walked straight to an empty desk piled with documents and tapped it lightly with her slender fingers.

“Fiona, put your tail away. Don’t sweep the reports you just organized onto the floor.”

Lilia’s voice wasn’t loud, but it instantly silenced the entire room.

Turning around, Lilia grabbed Lucy—who was already trembling like a sieve at the doorway—dragged her inside, and pressed her onto the chair buried in documents.

“Let me introduce her. This is the new clerical assistant, Lucy.”

After saying that, Lilia patted the stack of parchment that was at least half a meter tall and gave Lucy—who was already petrified—a gentle, almost kind smile.

“How is it? No wind, no sun. You just need to sit here and move your pen.”

“Isn’t it easy?”

Lucy looked at the mountain of documents that could collapse at any moment, then glanced at the succubi around her. Though they had stopped talking, their eyes were still sweeping back and forth over her neck and thighs.

Easy my foot!

“L–Lady Lilia…”

Lucy’s voice trembled with the verge of tears.

“I… I… I can’t do this…”

To save her life, Lucy decided to smear herself.

“You already agreed.” Lilia mercilessly exposed her.

Lucy: “…”

Damn those clerics—why would they record such irrelevant things in the files?!

“Alright, the job has been explained clearly.”

Lilia gave her no chance to argue. She glanced at the wall clock, her tone turning slightly hurried.

“I’ll leave this place to you.”

With that, she turned and walked out, her skirt swaying with a faint fragrance.

“Wait! Don’t go!”

Seeing her only shield about to leave, Lucy’s survival instinct exploded like never before.

She practically lunged forward with both hands and feet, grabbing Lilia’s thigh and clinging to it like a koala.

“Milady! This won’t work! This really won’t work!”

Lucy clutched tightly at Lilia’s skirt, tears and snot nearly coming out.

“They’re succubi! A whole group of succubi! I’m just a tiny body—I’m not even enough to fill the gaps between their teeth!”

“If you leave me here, tomorrow morning you’ll only find my dried corpse in that pile of documents!”

Lilia tried to pull her leg free.

It didn’t budge.

This girl looked thin, but her strength was impressive. As expected of someone who had consumed the Seed of Life.

With a helpless sigh, Lilia stopped and looked down at the clingy Lucy.

“Let go.”

“I won’t! Unless you take me with you! I’d even clean toilets!”

Lilia sighed, crouching down until her gaze met Lucy’s.

She raised a finger and gently lifted Lucy’s chin. A dangerous smile suddenly bloomed on her originally cold and beautiful face.

“Lucy, that bowl of Golden Fried Rice last night—was it good?”

Lucy froze for a moment, then nodded instinctively. “Y–yes… it was good.”

“We signed a contract.”

“You ate my food. And now you want to go back on it?”

Lucy’s lips trembled. Suddenly, she felt like the still-undigested fried rice in her stomach had turned into molten iron.

That wasn’t eating food—that was eating gold!

“B–but…” Lucy tried to struggle again. “This place is really dangerous…”

“Dangerous?”

Lilia stood up, crossing her arms as her gaze swept over the succubi who were watching the show.

“They just look fierce. In reality, they’re just a bunch of idiots who can’t even balance accounts.”

“And…”

Lilia lowered her voice, leaning close to Lucy’s ear.

“If you fail to complete your task, or try to run away…”

“Then the debt you owe can only be repaid in another way.”

Lucy shuddered all over. Her hands, which had been clutching Lilia’s leg, instantly recoiled as if electrocuted.

Compared to becoming fertilizer for plants… staying here as a mascot for succubi didn’t seem that unbearable anymore?

“I… I’ll do it!”

Lucy gritted her teeth.

“That’s more like it.”

Lilia nodded in satisfaction, casually helping Lucy straighten her crooked collar.

“Try it first. If it really doesn’t work, or if they really try to eat you…”

Lucy looked at her with hope. “Then you’ll change my job?”

Lilia smiled faintly, turned, and left without answering.

“……”

The door closed once again.

The room returned to a deathly silence.

Lucy stiffly turned around, her back pressed against the cold door.

More than a dozen pairs of eyes focused on her again.

“Oh my, the little cutie got left behind.”

The red-haired succubus named Fiona stood up from her chair, swaying her slender waist as she approached step by step.

She stopped in front of Lucy. Her impressive curves were almost pressed against Lucy’s face, and the heavy fragrance made Lucy dizzy.

Fiona extended her sharp-nailed hand and lightly traced along Lucy’s fragile carotid artery.

Lucy closed her eyes, holding her breath, already beginning to recite a requiem for herself in her heart.

“Since you belong to the Inspector…”