Chapter 1: Fainted from Hunger
“Doctor, he’s fainted four times this month alone.”
Li Zheng clutched Duan Ke’s medical chart nervously, his brow furrowed tight. “Is it really just hypoglycemia?”
Duan Ke felt dizzy. The smell of hospital disinfectant only made his already weak body feel worse.
He slumped against the wall, boneless, his slightly long, golden-brown curls obscuring his eyes. He looked as though he might pass out again at any moment.
The doctor looked at the boy, who resembled a delicate porcelain doll, and felt helpless.
He had never seen a patient like Duan Ke. Aside from slightly low blood sugar, all his indicators were normal, yet he suffered from frequent fainting spells with no relevant medical history.
“I’m sorry, student. Our tests here really can’t pinpoint the cause of your roommate’s illness. My suggestion is to take some medication and observe him for a while. If the situation doesn’t improve, go to a Grade 3A hospital in the provincial capital for further checks. Their equipment is more precise.”
Li Zheng listened even more intently than Duan Ke. He whipped out his phone, rapidly typing the doctor’s words into his notes app. He asked about the medication schedule, dosage, and dietary restrictions repeatedly, recording every detail.
Then, the two left the hospital.
Upon delivering Duan Ke to the door of his rental apartment, Li Zheng didn’t leave immediately. He nagged on, reiterating everything in his notes to Duan Ke.
“If you feel unwell at all, you must call me. Do you understand, Little Ke?”
Duan Ke wasn’t tall, only reaching Li Zheng’s neck. He looked up at Li Zheng with bright, deer-like eyes, his voice small and sounding very embarrassed.
“I know. Thank you… I’ve really been too much trouble for you lately.”
Duan Ke had very fair skin, and his hair was a natural golden-brown with a slight curl.
His smooth, rounded facial contours and blunt, almond-shaped eyes made him look like a harmless little lamb.
Li Zheng blushed easily.
He scratched the back of his neck and laughed. “Don’t be embarrassed. You can trouble me anytime; I’m happy to help.”
No, Duan Ke thought to himself. I am truly, extremely embarrassed.
He secretly ran his tongue over his itchy little fangs.
Because…
He really wanted to swallow his roommate whole.
He was very, very hungry.
In truth, Duan Ke could barely hear what Li Zheng was saying anymore. He could only smell the aroma of food emanating from Li Zheng’s body. It was only Duan Ke’s formidable willpower that allowed him to barely answer his roommate’s questions.
Duan Ke desperately wanted Li Zheng to leave; he couldn’t hold on much longer. But he was terrible at refusing the kindness of others.
Because of his unique constitution, Duan Ke had always cherished humans willing to be kind to him. So, hanging his head, he forced himself to converse with Li Zheng, his voice soft, low, and a bit slurred.
Noticing Duan Ke’s discomfort, Li Zheng didn’t stay longer. He urged Duan Ke to rest immediately and then headed back.
After sending his roommate away, Duan Ke closed the door with a sense of relief. He collapsed like a puddle of soft putty, sliding down the door to sit on the floor.
Soon, his eyes rolled back uncontrollably. The tip of his tongue, moist and crimson, couldn’t be retracted. His two pale, fleshy legs pressed tightly together to alleviate the hollow, unbearable thirst in his soul.
…He was starving.
Duan Ke held a secret he had kept for many years.
He was a succubus who fed on human vitality (spirit essence).
Many people had a terrible impression of succubi, believing they were greedy and cruel creatures who could only obtain food by ceaselessly copulating with humans and draining them dry.
But in fact, not all succubi were like that. At least, Duan Ke never did that.
He didn’t like having intimate relations with humans he didn’t know at all. He had always relied on charm magic to extract human vitality directly.
How did it work?
It was simple. He just had to pick a human who smelled nice, cast a small command, and chomp—he could swallow a mouthful of human vitality and be full.
Of course, this caused certain side effects for the human, like feeling listless as if they’d pulled an all-nighter, or having a sore back.
But this was far better than physically extracting vitality from someone’s body. Based on years of gossip Duan Ke had heard, the number of humans drained to death in bed by his succubus compatriots was not small. His method of feeding was already quite gentle.
But then, Duan Ke was “chosen.” He awakened the top-tier charm abilities .
This made his appetite grow larger than ever before—bigger than the hunger of all other succubi combined.
That was why he had fainted from hunger.
The itch emanating from the depths of his soul was unbearable. Panting in small breaths, he forced his body up and walked to the refrigerator, hoping to find something to fill his stomach.
Duan Ke liked to hoard supplies, so the fridge always had plenty of food. But at a time like this, no amount was enough. He quickly emptied the fridge of all snacks.
Because he was in such a rush, Duan Ke barely tasted anything, swallowing almost without chewing. His empty stomach was forced to hold too much food in a short time; it felt acidic and bloated, making him want to vomit.
Duan Ke’s stomach was shallow to begin with, and now the food was backed up to his throat, yet the emptiness in his soul hadn’t been relieved in the slightest.
Duan Ke hugged the refrigerator door and broke down silently, his palm-sized face wet with tears.
So hungry! I’m really so hungry, ahhhhh!!!
This food is useless. I want to suck a human!!
Tormented beyond measure, Duan Ke hesitated for a long time. Finally, unable to endure it, he squeezed his legs together tightly and ground them.
A numbing, electric sensation shot straight to his skull, temporarily alleviating the restlessness of the demonic markings on his abdomen. But clearly, this was like drinking poison to quench thirst. A more turbulent wave immediately came crashing back, causing Duan Ke to sob uncontrollably, clutching his empty lower belly as he collapsed softly to the floor.
His body’s warning was too obvious. He really couldn’t heed that Inquisitor’s decree anymore.
Duan Ke bit his lower lip hard, thinking, Even if I get caught, I have to use my charm to eat something right now.
Hunger ultimately defeated reason. Dominated by instinct, Duan Ke spread the small wings on his back, struggled to squeeze out the window, and flew unsteadily toward the crowds emitting the scent of food.
Monster Administration Bureau , Class-A Dangerous Monster Detention Center.
Qin Huai led a small squad, walking steadily toward the cells holding the heavy-offense prisoners. He looked straight ahead, his expression indifferent.
“The accomplices of A310—have you interrogated them yet?”
“Report, sir. Not yet.” Beads of cold sweat seeped from the forehead of Cheng Yu, who was responsible for these matters behind him. His voice was visibly tense. “We’ve used every available method, but that monster’s will is very tenacious. We…”
Cheng Yu knew this officer’s dislike for nonsense, so he explained the reason for the interrogation failure as concisely as possible.
Qin Huai gave no indication he had heard, continuing forward as if nothing had happened.
The subordinates, unable to gauge his unpredictable temperament, exchanged glances, seeing uncertainty and fear in each other’s eyes.
They followed the Inquisitor in deeper silence, footsteps echoing in the quiet corridor.
Despite being warriors who had rolled through blade and fire countless times, they couldn’t help but lighten their breathing, wishing the Inquisitor walking ahead would treat them as air.
The rows of mechanical iron cages held monsters with extremely high danger indices.
The deeper into the corridor they went, the higher the level and danger of the monsters. Eerie, hoarse roars echoed in the narrow, dim hallway.
Cheng Yu followed Qin Huai silently until the officer stopped at A310.
The man lowered his deep, black eyes, looking emotionlessly at the monster imprisoned inside.
Cheng Yu’s gaze followed Qin Huai’s downward.
A monster, fully two meters tall, half-human and half-wolf, was kneeling in the center of the cell. His eyes were plastered shut with congealed, filthy blood, obscuring his vision. Only a piercing crimson remained as he glared viciously at the young, tall officer in front of him.
Qin Huai pulled his service pistol from the side pocket of his trousers and cocked it, his movements unhurried.
Cheng Yu’s brow jumped. He immediately guessed what was about to happen, and his scalp tingled as if it were exploding. He couldn’t help but take a step back, watching the Inquisitor’s actions quietly.
The officer’s voice made one’s heart turn cold for no reason.
“A310. Last night at 8:27:53 PM, you and your accomplice appeared in District 7 and launched an indiscriminate magical attack on the crowd, causing 14 deaths and 102 injuries. Crime level: A. But now, you are the only one caught.”
“Where is your accomplice?”
The Wolf Demon looked up, his head covered in blood. Qin Huai wore a crisp, immaculate black military uniform, buttoned all the way to his Adam’s apple, as tidy and formal as if he were attending a merit award ceremony the next second. His pale but distinctively knuckled hand stroked the gun barrel rhythmically as he looked at the demon casually.
At ease. Unhurried.
As if he were certain this dying monster would spill the truth in his hands.
Contrasted sharply against his own wretched state, the Wolf Demon’s already grotesque, hairy face became even more hideous.
But suddenly, the hatred on the Wolf Demon’s face vanished, replaced by a bizarre, savage grin. He coughed up two mouthfuls of bloody foam, enduring the myriad wounds this damned human had inflicted upon him earlier, and rasped darkly, “Qin Huai, don’t get too fucking happy yet.”
“Do you know how many top-tier monsters you’ve offended with that decree you issued?” The Wolf Demon’s mouth full of sharp teeth oozed blood.
“They all want your life.”
“Today it’s me, the next one will be…”
Bang.
The gun fired without warning.
The bullet struck the Wolf Demon’s inner thigh with precision—a spot where nerve endings were most concentrated.
Pain, sharp to the extreme, cut off the Wolf Demon’s unfinished sentence. The narrow detention cell was filled with miserable howling. The monsters in the adjacent cells, stimulated by the noise, began to scream as well, creating a chaotic dance of demons.
Qin Huai’s rank was higher than anyone else in this Bureau. His uniform was thicker, and his upright, solemn attire made him appear overly impersonal, cold, and indifferent. The look he gave the monster was no different from how one would look at chickens or ducks waiting to be slaughtered.
“I want valid information about your accomplice, not this nonsense. Last chance.”
There was not a shred of extra emotion in those pitch-black eyes, yet the soldiers behind him paled and took two steps back, exchanging silent, tacit looks.
No one dared to question him. Outside the cell, silence reigned.
The fear of imminent death and rage caused the Wolf Demon to fully bestialize. The monster, with a physique different from ordinary humans, roared. His muscle power multiplied, breaking the restraints on his wrists. Howling, he lunged at Qin Huai.
The other soldiers gasped and raised their guns. Before they could act, Qin Huai calmly pulled the trigger, taking down the monster fighting for its life.
A violent gunshot, followed by the sound of a heavy object falling into a pool of blood.
“…”
The entire corridor fell silent. The monsters stopped their frantic resistance; even the sound of breathing vanished. After the chaos, this silence was even more oppressive.
Cheng Yu, who had witnessed the entire process from the side, was pale and barely dared to breathe. He glanced hurriedly at the corpse of the Wolf Demon who had died miserably, fought back the nausea churning in his stomach, summoned his courage to step forward, and asked with a tight throat:
“Sir, then next, we…”
“Investigate.”
Qin Huai was concise. His face showed no displeasure at the investigation being blocked. He issued the order in a flat tone.
“Give me an answer within three days.”
Having received their orders, no one wanted to stay in the same room as Qin Huai a moment longer.
Cheng Yu looked at Qin Huai with fear, as if looking at some inhuman monster. He and the soldiers quickly cleaned up the Wolf Demon’s corpse and the blood on the floor, then retreated hastily.
Only Qin Huai remained in the detention area.
Qin Huai lowered his eyes, lazily wiping a speck of blood from his hem, frowning with slight disgust. He intended to leave, but the communicator in his pocket suddenly began to vibrate.
He answered. “Speak.”
“Qin Huai, something’s happened.” It was a colleague’s voice. Lin Jiangli, usually slouchy and casual, sounded rare and serious.
“He has awakened.”
“The Progenitor Succubus , correct?” Qin Huai said indifferently. “Expected.”
He took out his access card, held it between two fingers, and swiped it in front of the detention area door. A cold, mechanical female voice sounded: “Inquisitor, wishing you a smooth shift.” The metal door opened.
“We must intervene in this. The Progenitor Succubus’s ability to mentally interfere with humans is too strong. We can’t wait until he starts moving to handle it; it will definitely lead to a major incident.”
Lin Jiangli spoke very fast. “I’ve sent you the file. Give me a plan ASAP, and I’ll send someone to execute it.”
Qin Huai gave a noncommittal hum, his crisp military boots tapping a rhythmic, steady sound on the floor. He clicked the cursor on his wrist device, and a floating screen unfolded before him.
Detailed files, complete with photos, were presented to the Inquisitor.
“Duan Ke .” He whispered the name once, his fingers rubbing the gun barrel twice.
“What’s the call? Send an assault team to arrest him directly, or have a specialist tail him for a while?” the communicator asked.
Qin Huai looked at the somewhat blurry photo a few more times. It was indeed a very deceptive face—holding no aggression whatsoever, appearing innocent and ignorant.
If he hadn’t known beforehand, even he would have found it hard to suspect that this exquisite, pretty boy was a terrifying, greedy monster who could destroy human society with the crook of a finger.
Qin Huai didn’t hesitate much. Concise as always: “No need for others. I’ll handle him.”
“Hmm? Oh, that works too. For a monster of this level, your application to handle it personally should get approved.”
The beeping of data operations sounded from the communicator. “Then I’ll transfer the tracking system permissions to you.”
“Uh… What’s going on??” Lin Jiangli’s tone suddenly became uncertain.
Qin Huai’s gloved hand swiped a page on the screen unhurriedly, his gaze lingering on the section describing Duan Ke’s physical characteristics for a few seconds.
His expression remained unchanged. “What?”
“…His current status is a bit strange…” Lin Jiangli sounded incredulous.
More beeping sounds came from the communicator, as if someone couldn’t believe the data they were seeing and was repeatedly verifying it.
Qin Huai stopped walking. His eyebrow raised very slightly.
“Strange how? Be clear.”
Was he creating a terrorist attack? Not impossible. After all, when top-tier monsters first awakened, their destructive desires were often at their peak.
Qin Huai’s fingers tapped calmly on the screen, mentally calculating the approximate range of casualties a mass succubus attack would cause. He checked the file for any recorded weaknesses of Duan Ke, but unsurprisingly, that section was blank.
After a long wait, Lin Jiangli’s answer finally came. His pitch suddenly shot up, completely losing his earlier anxious and serious demeanor.
“The Progenitor Succubus is currently hospitalized! And the cause is… he fainted from hunger on the street?? Huh??!”
Qin Huai paused, finally frowning. He asked with hesitation, “…What did you say?”
[Author’s Note] Qin Huai: …The Great Demon King? You mean this idiot? Duan Ke was chosen because he has a good name. A natural-born succubus (Ke), a walking aphrodisiac (not really).
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