Chapter 99: Qualified

Erik looked at the surrounding Succubi once more.

Primal Charm was still disabled, meaning all the emotions he had just received were completely genuine. That put him in a slightly better mood.

He continued distributing food. Only after most of the people had received their dinner did he hand the soup pot over to a Succubus responsible for logistics and leave the clearing.

After walking some distance, Erik took the Mirror of Ten Thousand Worlds from his spatial bracelet.

A layer of silver mist still covered the mirror’s surface. The moment he focused, familiar information immediately appeared.

[Mirror of Ten Thousand Worlds]

[Unlocked World: ICE AGE APOCALYPSE]

[Standard Entry Requirement: Silver.]

[Maximum Number of Accompanying Succubi: 2.]

Erik stared at the line displaying Silver.

He had only just reached Black Iron Stage 10, with Bronze still between him and Silver. If he progressed at a normal pace, he would still need more time.

However, the feeling of his newly increased strength suddenly gave Erik an idea.

Is Silver a realm restriction or a strength restriction?

The surface of the mirror did not react.

Erik continued asking:

What if you evaluate my current overall combat power?

This time, the silver mist began to swirl.

Only a few seconds later, new lines of text appeared.

[The master has requested an exceptional evaluation.]

Erik raised an eyebrow slightly.

That’s actually possible?

[The Silver requirement is a safety standard established according to the average combat strength of creatures within the current world.]

[Scanning master...]

[Realm: Black Iron Stage 10.]

[Special Physique: Primal Incubus.]

[Physical Strength: Exceeds current realm standard.]

[Regenerative Ability: Exceeds standard.]

[Reaction Speed: Exceeds standard.]

[Calculating overall combat strength...]

Erik waited patiently.

Finally—

[Minimum safety threshold reached.]

[Exceptional entry approved.]

[The world ICE AGE APOCALYPSE may now be entered.]

Erik’s hand tightened slightly around the mirror.

The good news had come so quickly that he remained silent for several seconds.

He had already prepared himself to at least break through Bronze and continue advancing toward Silver before he could begin his plan. He had never expected the characteristics of the Primal Incubus to push his actual combat strength so far beyond his displayed realm that the Mirror of Ten Thousand Worlds would directly grant him an exception.

Erik looked at the words before him.

The frozen world. Thirty days. Meira. Laviana. Minerals and production technology.

Everything he had only just arranged in his mind had suddenly transformed from a future plan into something he could begin preparing for immediately.

Erik should have been happy.

But the smile on his lips appeared only briefly before vanishing, because Jacob’s words echoed through his mind once more.

We’re coming.

A new source of energy.

Erik raised his head.

From where he stood, he could see almost the entire clearing. The Succubi sat around the fires. Some laughed while they ate, while others fought over the final piece of meat on a plate, only for a companion beside them to snatch it away.

It was all perfectly ordinary.

If their wings, tails, and other racial traits were removed, they were simply women who had survived a terrible day and were now trying to enjoy their dinner.

Erik did not feel as though he were looking at a "race."

He only saw people who wanted to live, wanted to eat good food, wanted to be loved, and wanted to wake up tomorrow morning so they could continue doing what they enjoyed.

Erik thought of the Men’s Council, then Zeka, and finally Jacob.

The two sides seemed to belong to entirely different worlds, yet they shared one striking similarity.

They were all accustomed to seeing Succubi as a concept before seeing them as people.

Erik exhaled softly.

If Jacob was telling the truth...

A major war might be approaching.

Silver Moon was still far too weak. The outpost had only just been established, equipment and resources were scarce, and their production system was even more inadequate. If Erik wanted to create a Succubus community capable of protecting itself without kneeling before the Council and begging for resources, then the journey to the Ice Age Apocalypse could no longer be delayed for long.

He needed technology, machinery, metallurgy, and mining.

Everything.

Erik was still thinking when a voice came from above.

"Master."

He looked up.

Meira was still lying on the same tree branch as before.

"What?"

She raised her empty skewer.

"There’s no meat left."

Erik: "..."

The heaviness in his heart was instantly interrupted.

"Come down and get some."

"Your little dog is tired."

"Then go hungry."

Meira immediately sat upright.

"I’m coming down right now."

In less than two seconds, she had flown down from the branch and landed directly in front of Erik.

Erik looked at the woman who had just claimed she was too tired to descend on her own.

Meira showed no embarrassment whatsoever.

"Where’s the meat?"

Erik finally laughed and pointed toward the stove.

"Get it yourself."

Meira happily ran off.

Erik watched her retreating figure as warmth slowly spread through his chest.

That was what he wanted to preserve.

Not some grand concept like "saving the Succubus world," but simple moments like this.

If someone wanted to destroy them, he would not stand by and watch.

Erik returned the Mirror of Ten Thousand Worlds to his spatial bracelet. Just as he was about to head back toward the stove, a seductive female voice suddenly sounded directly behind him.

"Have you forgotten about me?"

Before Erik could turn around, something soft and warm brushed along the side of his neck. A long tongue slowly licked from near his collarbone up to just beneath his ear, instantly making his body stiffen.

A familiar fragrance reached him.

Two arms wrapped around his waist from behind, followed by a mature, voluptuous body pressing against his back. Laviana rested her chin on Erik’s shoulder, her red hair falling beside his neck while her tongue still refused to leave his skin.

"Laviana."

"Hmm?"

She licked him again.

Erik sighed.

"A lot of people are watching."

"I know."

"And you’re still doing this?"

Laviana laughed beside his ear.

"Because they’re watching."

Erik: "..."

He glanced to the side.

Sure enough, nearly the entire area had fallen silent.

The Succubi who had been eating were all staring at them. One woman even held her spoon frozen in midair, her mouth slightly open as she completely forgot to eat.

According to their beliefs, a Succubus taking the initiative to embrace a man from behind was already difficult enough to imagine, much less licking his neck with so many people watching.

What was even more astonishing was that Erik did not push her away.

He even raised one hand and lightly patted Laviana’s hands where they were wrapped around his waist.

"What is it?"

Several gazes around them immediately changed.

[An increase in emotion has been detected.]

Erik immediately closed the notification panel.

He had absolutely no desire to know what kind of emotions those women were currently providing.

Laviana finally withdrew her tongue, but her arms remained around him.

"Can’t I come here just to see you?"

"You can."

"Then why did you ask what I wanted?"

"Because your expression says you want something."

Laviana paused slightly, then laughed.

"You learned to read me rather quickly."

"Your smile is far too suspicious."

"All right."

She rested her cheek against Erik’s shoulder.

"There’s a woman who wants to meet you."

"Who?"

"Corvina."

Erik thought for several seconds.

"Never heard of her."

"A Titan Succubus," Laviana explained. "She has Epic aptitude and an exceptionally powerful physique. She has her own group, and I intend to invite her to join The Angel Succubus project—at the very least as a combat consultant. If she’s suitable, she can become an actress herself."

Erik immediately connected her to the project.

"She wants to meet me because of the film?"

"More or less."

Laviana’s smile was rather strange.

Erik glanced sideways at her.

"More or less?"

"You can ask her about the rest yourself."

He immediately sensed that something was wrong, but did not question her further.

"When?"

"After we return to Silver Moon."

"All right."

Erik nodded.

"I’ll meet her."

Laviana looked satisfied.

However, she continued embracing him without any intention of leaving.

Erik waited several seconds.

"What else?"

"Hmm?"

"You haven’t finished."

Laviana raised her head.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Mhm."

She looked at him for a moment before the corners of her lips slowly curved upward.

"I have an idea."

Erik immediately became wary.

"About what?"

"The Angel Succubus."

"You just mentioned Corvina."

"It isn’t about her."

Laviana finally moved around to stand in front of Erik, but her hands remained on his waist. Her red eyes gleamed, clearly showing that she was in an excellent mood.

"I’ve reconsidered the direction of the series."

Erik raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Is there a problem?"

"No." Laviana shook her head. "On the contrary, the foundation is excellent. A world where Succubi build their own society, fight monsters, protect one another, and grow together has enough potential to continue for a very long time."

"Then what do you want to change?"

"Add you."

Erik fell silent.

"...Me?"

"Mhm."

Laviana nodded with complete seriousness.

"I want you to appear in that world."

Erik looked at her.

"Wasn’t that world originally supposed to have no men?"

"Originally."

Laviana deliberately emphasized the word.

"One can appear later."

Erik’s sense of foreboding intensified.

"What am I supposed to do after appearing?"

Laviana’s smile deepened. She raised a hand, gently traced one fingertip across Erik’s chest, then answered in an extremely serious voice:

"Lead the Angel Succubi."

Erik frowned.

"To fight monsters?"

"No."

"Then fight what?"

Laviana stared directly at him.

"Men."

Erik: "..."

It genuinely took him several seconds to confirm that he had not misheard her.

"What?"

Laviana remained entirely serious.

"I want you to lead the Angel Succubi in a fight against men."

Erik: "???"