Holding Luo Ling, her mom began explaining seriously, “Exactly. We Succubi feed on the vital energy of sentient beings. Human food? Just for taste—never fills us up. The most efficient way to absorb it is through bodily fluid contact, like…”

Images from those “study materials” flashed uncontrollably through Luo Ling’s mind.

“Stop, stop, stop! No need to explain *that* part… I—I just want to know, what happens if we starve?” Luo Ling cut in hastily, steering the topic away. She couldn’t bear hearing those embarrassing details—or picturing those scenes. After all, having lived eighteen years as a boy, how could she possibly accept… *certain acts*… just to eat?

“If you starve, you fall into dormancy—like a vegetative state. Body frozen, senses gone. But absorbing vital energy wakes you right up.”

“Huh. Doesn’t sound so bad.”

Luo Ling had braced for death. *That’s it?*

“Do you *really* think so?” Her mom’s expression turned grave. “During dormancy, we remain fully conscious—but trapped in endless, silent darkness. No sight, sound, movement… nothing. Do you understand that feeling, daughter?”

Luo Ling recalled an experiment: a researcher locked himself in a pitch-black, empty room—no light, no objects, just padded walls. Total sensory deprivation. He nearly broke down mentally… in less than a day.

*This must be what “worse than death” means. Even execution would be kinder.*

“I… I get it. I’ll learn to hunt… as soon as I can.”

She still couldn’t accept *that*, but… cross that bridge when we come to it.

“Good. You grasp the stakes.” Her mom smirked. “Oh, and just so you know—both *areas* work for feeding. The lower one’s just… far more efficient.”

“Eeek! Mom!!” Luo Ling’s face burned crimson. For someone with zero experience, it was *way* too much.

Her mom’s eyes sparkled—*aroused*, not just amused. She longed to sweep her flustered daughter into a lesson right then… but held back, respecting Luo Ling’s fragile state. *Later.*

“U-um… Is there *really* no other way?” Luo Ling stammered, cheeks still flushed, clinging to hope.

“Mom knows living as a boy for so long makes this hard. But honestly? You accepted your new identity faster than I expected.”

“It’s… just… remembering how my… *libido*… felt… off…” She buried her face in her hands.

*(She’d once stayed up all night with *that activity*, collapsing from exhaustion. No refractory period. She’d fought it for years—silent, ashamed. “Guess I’ll die single,” she’d joked. Never imagining the truth: she wasn’t male. Wasn’t even human.)*

But that embarrassing past? *Never* confessing it.

Mengya stifled a laugh, respecting her daughter’s privacy.

“Back to the point,” Luo Ling pressed. “You mentioned a way to feed *without*… *that*?”

“Mm-hmm. Form a demonic contract.”

“A demonic contract?”

“We grant a wish. They pay a price. The contract binds it. And we can cancel anytime—no harm done.”

“Sounds like a shady company that takes the money and runs…”

“No, no, no!” Her mom pressed a hand to her chest. “Payment comes *after* we fulfill the wish. We have standards!”

*(Conscience? Debatable. Human decency? Unlikely.)*

“So… the contract harvests vital energy? Won’t it drain them?”

“Set installments! Like: ‘Vital energy from your next ten intimate encounters.’ Safe. Discreet. We keep a low profile.”

“Then… all these years, you fed me via contracts?”

Her mom shook her head. “Contract energy flows straight into *my* body. Couldn’t transfer it to you.”

*Wait—so contracts bypass… everything?!* Relief flooded Luo Ling. *But…*

“If you couldn’t transfer it… then…”

“Yep. I fed you personally. Just like earlier.” Mengya licked her lips, savoring the memory.

“No way! I’d remember that!”

“Of course not. I used my enchanting Demon Eye to hypnotize you… and erase the memories. Otherwise? You’d never cooperate.” She sighed dramatically. “And wow—your appetite! Sometimes you drained *me* dry and still wanted more. Ugh… motherhood struggles.”

“La la la, not listening—!” Luo Ling covered her ears, wailing cutely.

“The enchanting Demon Eye is our innate gift,” Mengya continued. “I’ll teach you. It secures identities, alters memories, seals contracts… It’s why Succubi thrive in the Demon Realm.”

“Demon Realm? So… vampires? Werewolves?” Luo Ling’s eyes lit up. Boyish curiosity flared through her shattered worldview.

“Yep! Oh—the Lamia clan? Their binding techniques are *legendary*.” Her mom hugged herself, shivering blissfully.

*Is Mom a masochist?!*

“Ahem! What about vampires?” Luo Ling interrupted, eager to redirect—and genuinely curious.

“They resemble us—no horns or tail, but long fangs. Rumor says one hides in this city. Oh! And they *adore* beautiful young women’s blood—”

“Eh?! W-will he bite *me*?!” Luo Ling squeaked. *I’m basically a walking snack now…*

Her mom’s eyes twinkled with mischief—then softened. “Relax~ Vampires hunt at night. And they’d *never* drink a Succubus’s blood. Ours is a powerful aphrodisiac for them. One sip? Forced arousal for *days*. Just say ‘I’m a Succubus’—they’ll make a very graceful exit.”

“Phew… phew…” Luo Ling patted her modest chest. Small, but comforting.

“Any other Demon Realm races here? I should prepare.”

“Only that rumored vampire. Your university city? Unknown. But don’t worry—demons in the Human Realm are rare. Mostly exiles. Stay quiet, stay safe.”

“Wait…” Luo Ling narrowed her eyes. “You said *most* are exiles. Does that include… us?”

“Uh…”

Her mom’s face froze—*oops, slipped up*. Eyes darting, guilty.

After a long, silent stare-down, she surrendered with a sigh. “Fine… In the Demon Realm, voluptuous Succubi were prized. We… less-endowed ones… were called ‘useless Succubi.’ Then exiled.”

*…Oh.*

*What a sad story…*