When I arrived to this other dimension, I found myself in an empty carnival of some sorts.
My body already sitting at the audience stand.
The wooden seating seemed like the type to become more uncomfortable when crowded, but I was glad there wasn't anyone there. Allowing me some time to prepare my mind to meet this myth.
I wondered who it could be at this point…
Was it a respectable master? A wicked demon beyond compare? A nobody? Any would be good.
From what I'd learnt, only 'compatibility' was the best way to get the most out of Gift Negotiations.
Incompatibility could cause disastrous effects.
Such as a Gift that made your bones vanish, thus causing your organs to collapse in on themselves.
Or something like the weakened 'Ice Vulnerability' that was now sealed deep within my physique.
Being 'Cursed' at this point would kill me this time.
With that being said, I was surprised when the lights started turning on. A performance went underway. It seemed like this would automatically happen the moment someone entered this place.
"Ladies and gentle freaks, please feast your eyes on our first performance… 'The Trapeze'!" I could hear an announcement. There was no cheering coming from my mouth, but they went on anyway.
As if this was a scripted performance all would see.
Two dolls appeared out of nowhere on two high up platforms, then started swinging on high up ropes.
It was my first time seeing 'trapeze' in the flesh.
Ummm, if you could somehow call it that.
The way they wore their colourful attire was also interesting. A blend of patterns and various hues.
Almost hypnotic…
I didn't know why, but it made me wonder if I'd ever went to a place like this with my family at home.
But then remembered who the fuck I was.
Holy shit, I'm a terrible human being.
Why the fuck couldn't I join my family more often?
I make the people in my life miserable, don't I?
The more I looked at the dazzling performance. I felt a rock sinking deeper into my stagnant heart.
…I must have went SOMEWHERE with them, right?
Even though I love them. Even though I'd hurt anyone to keep them safe… Why won't they smile?
Just live their lives without me?
Wouldn't it be easier if I never existed?
When the performance finally ended, another one started afterwards. This time, it was a juggling solo.
Balancing some wine bottles on his chin while throwing the rest of them around in both hands.
Pretty dexterous.
As I was writhing about in the seats, someone sat next to me out of nowhere. Surprising my eyes out.
But I managed to hold back my exaggerated reaction and turned my head to look at them.
"You are?" I asked the helmeted woman.
She wore a normal pair of jeans along with a white top. Pretty normal clothing that didn't match her headgear, which looked like a medieval helmet mostly worn by knights and armoured cavalrymen.
"Victor told me about you… Adam Graham, huh?" A feminine voice resounded. She took off her helmet.
What was revealed underneath the headgear was a blonde-haired beauty. One unlike Norse mythology.
"Weren't you a guy?" (Adam)
"I pick and choose what I want to be. It's not like I have to abide human standards." She pinched my nose as if I said something rude. Acting so friendly that I found myself unable to reject her attitude.
"…Right. I came here to negotiate with you." (Adam)
"Tsk tsk… No no, this can wait for later. Tell me, is this performance not to your taste?" She pointed at the juggler not too far from us. A mannequin that was doing it utmost to skilfully entertain the crowd.
"It's amazing… To the point I wish this scene could be shared with those I care for." I didn't rush this.
Patience… That was something I needed.
I hoped I'd get it as quickly as possible.
"You're quite bland for someone who has compatibility with me. Tell me more about yourself."
"Err…" It looked like I was having an interview.
I decided to start from the beginning. There was no need to worry about secrets in this world anyway.
The story started from the moment I left home. All the way until I tried saving the sister of my crush.
I couldn't even remember if we went out anymore.
Only that she took my virginity at some point.
"…Alright. I've filled in the blanks, but there's so much that you haven't said." Loki frowned at me.
"I've told you everything." (Adam)
"Well then, what about your own future?" (Loki)
"Pardon?" (Adam)
"I'm asking how you plan to live with your family after everything is over." She leaned in and poked.
"Nothing. I guess I'll die." I shrugged my shoulders.
There wasn't anything left to do after they're safe.
"So this is the inconsistency…" She murmured.
A sharp light appeared in her eyes momentarily.
Loki reached out and grabbed the small horn at the side of my forehead, which made have a reaction.
"AH…!" I wasn't used to someone touching that area of my body, which made me more sensitive.
She didn't stop there.
Another hand went down the sleeve of my shirt and grabbed a bulge on my tailbone. It made me writhe.
"L-Loki…?" I wasn't able to stop myself from drooling. My eyes kept going in and out of focus.
It felt worse than someone grabbing on my groin.
"Your mindset doesn't suit your body at all. You won't be able to bring out the power of an Incubus or an Asura at this rate." These words made me feel the desire for wanting to improve myself.
"T-then… what do you suggest?" I tried to keep my calm, but my panic couldn't help bubbling up.
"You may call them evil, but lust is born from a desire for affection. It's to give and receive pleasures of life." Loki said while rubbing my sensitive spots. Not even giving breathing room.
The juggler somehow disappeared, and I wasn't able to resist the urges deep inside my own heart.
It was the libido of an Incubus…
"T-this is going too fast, isn't it?" (Adam)
"Hardly. It's best that you disregard human notions like 'sex is between lovers' and your pride. You need to be able to keep your mind clear, but that's not all. Experience all the pleasures of the body personally. Control it." Loki took me to the stage.
She laid me down on the ground of the stage, and I wasn't able to speak when more 'human' figures arrived. All of them weren't mannequins, but true Succubi judging from the two horns on their heads.
The several beautiful women of different proportions all wore clothings unfit for the occasion. They wore white makeup like clowns. All wearing red paint-like lipstick along with hats.
I wasn't sure why though, but I was 'intimidated'.
My manhood standing tall to face them.
"They are all low-level Succubi with limited range of intelligence, but this should be enough." Loki spoke while pushing the only jester girl in the group towards me. Her eyes seemed to show only libido.
Primal instincts of Lust Demons…
Even though she didn't seem to see me as anything more than an object of desire, her hands and movements worked a lot differently. This harlequin girl with natural pale skin rubbed me.
Expertly grabbing onto my manhood.
Stimulating it from top to bottom like she was all too familiar with my body. Touching in all areas.
The rest of them did the same to me.
Swallowing me whole like I was food to them.
I could feel my vitality being tugged at, which made me realise why Loli did something this absurd.
It would've been hard to notice otherwise.
From the looks of it, 'Yang Energy' and vitality could be siphoned from me via accepting pleasure.
Like trading on for another.
Regardless of how they worked on my body, the only thing that mattered was how my heart took it.
Meaning: I should not show any form of weakness.
This kind pleasure coming from people I didn't know felt different from the type given by Clarissa.
There was no care or 'love' in these hands…
They were merely stroking me like I was an animal to be used. Not a human to be given affection to.
But I also didn't feel any arrogance or pride.
Only desperation.
It only took a few seconds before I became undone. My body unable to handle their pace.
Only through falling into the depths of depravity did I feel myself becoming attuned as an Incubus.
Figuring out things about my body previously too subtle to notice. Like the changes in my organs.
Rather than only having the ability to produce seeds, my manhood could now 'suck' in Yin.
That was to say that a Incubus had a groin that cared less about and more about 'control' itself.
Sucking in the bodily fluids of others using their pores. Even the sweat glands all over the body.
It was likely why I became as dry as a desert after a certain period, which made them more desperate.
Harming me in the process…
Their hands went from sensual touches to grabbing onto me for their dear lives to 'eat' me.
"Urgh…" I could feel the threats they were showing.
"Alright, hands off him now." Seeing that it didn't take long to master 'receiving', Loki casually kicked everyone off of me. They fell off with a loud thud and bone-wrenching horror. Becoming disfigured.
Was this their 'Cosmetic Polymorph'?
They started to look more demonic after their masks were torn off. Looking like true 'Demons'.
I expected a fight, but they backed off obediently.
"Sorry about this whole thing." She said as they disappeared off the stage: "I wanted to test you."
"And if I failed?" (Adam)
"Would've been a good show for me." (Loki)
I felt a chill run down my spine when she took me in her arms. She was being way too honest here.
"…Can we just negotiate now?" (Adam)
"Now now… What's the rush?" (Loki)
"Why are you doing this to me?" (Adam)
"You make it sound like I want to hurt you." (Loki)
She seemed much more different than anyone I'd ever met before. Someone I felt fear being close to.
It made me want to escape from here immediately.
"You are your own enemy. Was it because of your parents you turned out so twisted?" (Loki)
"Don't talk about them in such a way." (Adam)
"I'm being honest here. Why is it you refuse to take help from anyone?" She grabbed onto my face.
"They're untrustworthy." I narrowed my eyes.
"Even your flesh and blood?" (Loki)
"They wouldn't understand me." (Adam)
"Maybe… but you never tried to explain anything in the first place. Staying far. Being bored." (Loki)
"I didn't… It's different…" (Adam)
"Didn't you literally refuse the help of your 'Helper Fairy'?" She talked about that temporary sidekick.
"Too suspicious for me, and I was right." I was certain now that Kang Hyuk had betrayed me.
"Then what about your little 'demons' here?" She pointed to the centre of my chest. The tiny 'Gu Pot'.
"…They don't want to come out unless I do some favours." I spoke something I'd kept a secret earlier.
Those of the 'Sex Demon Gu Pot' had already matured at this point, but they were disappointed.
Watching my actions had made them more jaded towards me. Unable to put faith in me anymore.
To regain their trust, I needed to give good will.
Whatever that supposedly meant…
"So you're all alone now?" Loki smiled dangerously at me. I couldn't escape the hands holding me.
My strength had been sapped away since earlier.
Fear…
"I've always been alone." I wore a brave face.
That way, I could keep what little pride I had left.
"That so…" She laughed at me like I was a clown.
Leaving me on the ground in the middle of the stage, then walking up to the audience stands.
Sitting where I did before.
"Entertain me. Show me how much you believe in your delusions, and I shall grant you a Gift. As a man now isolated from the laws of time, you will truly know solitude after going back." Loki jested.
My eyes became clearer at her empty provocation.
Did she really think she knew me so well?
No matter what Frankenstein had told her, that was just nonsense. I knew myself better than any other.
There was no way I wasn't alone in life.
That was just how life itself worked.
It didn't matter to me. I just needed to find out how long I needed to stay here until I could go back.
That was the promise Frankenstein made to me.