LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 26 - Why Can't I? (2)
Chapter 26 – Why Can’t I? (2)
“You bastard! How dare you hurt Nella…!”
“Die! Die for Nella!”
“If your death is what will make Nella happy, then I’ll kill you!”
Despite seeing Sunal for the first time today, the hatred in their eyes and voices toward him was overwhelming.
One of the reasons the Allure Power was so dangerous was now laid bare before him.
Simply because of “love,” they harbored unjust hatred, launched baseless attacks, and even justified murder.
Sunal sneered at the people charging toward him.
He didn’t bother to touch the bodycam attached to his government ID badge.
In fact, he hoped the higher-ups would recognize just how dangerous the Allure Power could be.
Before any of their fists, knives, sharp claws, or makeshift weapons could reach him, Sunal shattered the vial of blood Maeve had given him.
The moment the Allure Power spread out, everyone froze.
‘It’s real, huh?’
Maeve’s Allure Power far exceeded Nella’s.
Sunal, just to be sure, deactivated the trap-like spell he had placed in front of himself and dramatically moved his fingers.
Crackle!
Manipulating the bodycam with a flicker of electricity, he enhanced the spell he had written just moments ago: ‘To those controlled by the engraved mana.’
Since the engraved mana was already linked, whatever he used, victory was his.
[Everyone, stick to the ground.]
A dazzling light appeared in front of everyone, and as if hands were attached to it, it grabbed each person by the head and slammed them into the ground.
Boom!
Even Nella, who had hesitated for a moment, was no exception.
With the impact of her head hitting the ground, her vision blurred, and a deafening sound rang in her ears.
Pain surged across her face, shoulders, and stomach, stinging her entire body.
“…It hurts.”
Nella trembled in disbelief.
Pain? For her?
It was the first time she had ever experienced physical pain since being born as a succubus.
‘He’s a wizard… A wizard…’
How could this make sense? How could that be magic? She thought she must be mistaken.
Nella nervously glared at Sunal but then froze as an unfamiliar fear crept over her.
Why was it so quiet?
She shifted her gaze to the left.
All of her reliable allies were lying face-down on the ground.
She moved her eyes to the right.
No one else moved either. A heavy silence, as if everyone had died, settled over the room.
Fear began to blossom inside her.
The Allure Power was supposed to be invincible.
No, it had to be invincible.
Because it was a power that made everyone love her for no reason at all.
Love had always caressed her gently.
“They’ve merely fallen.”
Sunal’s quiet voice resonated as he turned the bodycam back on.
With his voice echoing through the stillness, where only he stood upright, Nella realized she had awakened something she should never have touched.
“They’ve merely fallen.”
The repeated phrase felt overwhelmingly threatening, and Nella hastily tried to lift her upper body.
But she could barely raise her head.
Her cumbersome hair fell over her eyes, tickling her face, but Nella raised her voice toward the people lying on the ground, desperate to survive.
“What are you all doing? Get up!”
The composure she had earlier had long since vanished.
“You’re supposed to protect me…!”
It was because she believed the civil servant was alone.
No, it was because she was confident that she could win, even if the police or anyone else came.
The arrogance of thinking she could just control him with the Allure Power had brought that public servant here.
Once the reality of the situation hit her, the fear became uncontrollable.
“Protect… me…”
As she struggled to shake the giant next to her, Nella suddenly stopped.
Dust and food were stuck to her hand. Nella grimaced.
“…Filthy.”
It was disgusting.
No, she herself was disgusting.
She, who had lived her entire life clean and surrounded by new things, was driven mad by the sight of dirt on her hand.
‘I’m so annoyed. So annoyed. So annoyed!’
Nella tried to stand, but she still couldn’t.
The filthy ground was holding her down, refusing to let her rise.
“What are you all doing? Protect me! Get up, now!”
Nella screamed desperately.
But despite everything she did, nothing changed. In frustration, she unleashed more of her Allure Power.
As her eyes darkened, resembling thick eyeliner, the people lying on the ground squirmed, unable to fully open their eyes.
They struggled like puppets on strings, trying to push themselves up from the ground.
“Nella.”
But just then, Sunal’s voice pierced Nella’s ears.
She flinched in surprise.
“Without my permission, no one here can get up.”
Despite the fact that what he said seemed to be true—despite the fact that she poured out even more power—no one was able to rise.
Was this a wizard?
‘No way.’
Nella frantically looked around. The wizards she knew weren’t like this.
They were weak, easily swept aside with a flick of her hand.
‘…Right. There’s a wizard here too, isn’t there?’
The thought occurred to her belatedly.
At the same time, questions swirled in her mind.
Why was this one different?
But that wasn’t important right now.
Nella concentrated her Allure Power in one place, forcing the wizard to awaken.
While the Allure Power couldn’t directly strike an opponent, it could do many other things.
One of them was mana expansion.
“Protect me.”
With what sounded like a request but was truly a command, the wizard drew his staff and extended his hand forcefully.
The mana surged more fiercely than usual, and the roaring beam of light seemed almost alive.
It zigzagged wildly and rushed straight toward Sunal.
Boom!
The light collided with Sunal’s magic. The loud crash was accompanied by the destruction of nearby store items, as smoke billowed into the air.
‘Of course.’
Nella’s hair fluttered in the wind.
‘Die. Die. Die.’
Nella’s eyes gleamed prettily.
It didn’t matter if that civil servant died. There were plenty of others who could turn themselves in on her behalf.
“Even for a wizard, it’s illegal to use magic so recklessly. Did you know that?”
As the smoke swirled and cleared, Sunal emerged, smiling lightly.
Something transparent shimmered briefly in front of him before disappearing.
Nella’s expression crumbled.
“That… can’t be.”
“It can. When you use magic, traces are left behind. If those traces are investigated, we’ll find out just how powerful that magic was. If it weren’t for me, someone would’ve died here today.”
Sunal casually dusted off his clothes.
He slowly approached.
“Oh, were you really trying to kill me?”
“…Stay back.”
Nella looked at Sunal as if he were a monster.
The power succubi had was Allure. So, what happens when they meet someone immune to that power?
No. The idea that someone could be unaffected had never even crossed her mind.
That power was enough to crush even wizards.
“What you’re enjoying right now is an illusion.”
Sunal didn’t care how the succubus looked at him. He had no desire to answer her questions.
“Now, release them all.”
“No! Why should I let them go?”
Nella raised one corner of her mouth, though it trembled slightly.
“No. Why shouldn’t I use such a wonderful power? If I use it just a little, everything I want comes to me. This damned country oppressed us, telling lies that this power is dangerous!”
“It is dangerous.”
“Look, aren’t they all laughing?”
At Nella’s words, all those who couldn’t even get up burst into laughter.
Cackle. Cackle.
Ha-ha-ha.
Bwahahaha.
It was like a lively band had filled the store.
“Does that sound like laughter to you? They’re not your puppets. Let them go now. You need to help them get treated.”
Unlike the spread of the Allure Power, Nella’s face began to show signs of strain, veins standing out.
Sunal carefully tried to persuade her again.
“Nella. Stop using your power. If your mana twists, not only will you never be able to use the Allure Power again, but you might die.”
“No. I don’t want to talk to a man who isn’t interested in me.”
Sunal exhaled a short breath. At this point, there was nothing left but malice.
The Allure Power was so overwhelming that even the best protective equipment could barely hold up. Sunal couldn’t signal for the police to arrest her.
‘There’s no other way.’
Sunal moved his mana-coated fingers.
[Engraved mana, gather before me as one.]
Once again, he used spoken words to strengthen the spell.
He intended to contain the rampaging power by concentrating it in one place. It was the kind of thing that would get someone called crazy.
Interfering with someone else’s mana was already difficult, and even if successful, it often left the person half-destroyed.
The mana Sunal had connected began to converge in his palm, forming a tightly coiled mass that gradually swelled like a ball of yarn.
At that moment, Nella suddenly found herself unable to breathe.
“…Huk.”
As she felt something being pulled out of her, a wave of fear washed over her.
“You can breathe. It’s not painful; it just feels a little strange for a moment. See? You’re breathing now, aren’t you?”
Like a spell, Nella’s breathing became easier. But the sensation of something being drained didn’t go away.
That civil servant had undoubtedly cast a spell on her.
“You’re a civil servant. Have you forgotten…?”
Nella desperately stretched out her hand, pointing at the government ID around Sunal’s neck.
“And I’m a citizen. You… you shouldn’t be doing this.”
“I know. That’s why I stopped here, isn’t it? The sensation you’re feeling right now is the result of me withdrawing the Allure Power, so there’s no need to worry.”
At Sunal’s calm words, Nella’s eyes widened.
He had withdrawn the Allure Power?
“That’s im-impossible. It’s impossible!”
“For me, it’s possible.”
As the ball of thread in Sunal’s palm grew larger, Nella’s pupils trembled.
At first, she was doubtful, but it was happening. Her Allure Power was truly being drained away.
“Do you believe me now?”
Sunal smiled and stopped the magic.
With his hand clenched, he placed the coiled mana into a large bottle he had taken from his bag.
‘I’d like to take more, but doing so would just drag me into more troublesome business.’
The incident had occurred because of the Allure Power. If that power completely disappeared, everyone’s attention would naturally shift to him.
“…You, you’re a monster! This is impossible! It can’t be…!”
“Hmm.”
Sunal paused to think for a moment.
After all, succubi, including the dream demon species, had traditionally been subjugated by vampires, who possessed vast magical knowledge.
Although they didn’t have the same level of knowledge as vampires, succubi were still well-versed in magic, so it was understandable why Nella found this hard to believe.
Still, it annoyed Sunal. Just because something was a little different, people started shouting “monster.”
“Think whatever you want. You’ll have plenty of time to reflect on this, whether anyone pushes you or not.”
Sunal moved his fingers to cast another spell.
[Flame Butterfly, fly.]
A butterfly made of flames sprouted from his hand and fluttered toward the window.
“Oh, and feel free to report this to the Wizards’ Association.”
Sunal smiled broadly.
When it came to magic, those idiots were the only ones worth mentioning. But of course, they wouldn’t care.
How could they even think about suppressing the Allure Power? They could barely contain it with magic, constantly being overwhelmed.
Even Sunal wouldn’t have bothered if Nella hadn’t pushed him this far.
The spell was burdensome and exhausting.
“They’re the kind of people who dismiss anything they can’t do as impossible. They might even recommend you get a psychological evaluation. If I were you, I wouldn’t bother.”
Sunal finally released the magic that had been holding everyone down, then calmly pulled out a measuring device.
Beep. Beep.
112.
It was still above the limit, but at this level, it was a side effect that would subside without medicine. The police would be able to arrest her comfortably.
‘Still… it leaves a bitter taste.’
Realizing that he was the one doing all the dirty work, Sunal felt a familiar pang of pain from his gastritis, a mix of stomach pain and a sour mood.
After putting away the device, Sunal addressed Nella again.
“It would be best for you to give up your power now. The situation will only get worse for you from here on out. If you cooperate with the police, they might go easier on you.”
“…Give it back.”
“Before that, I have one more question.”
Sunal faintly heard footsteps behind him. The police had arrived.
Of course, they were fast with things like this.
“Do you remember the slime near the community center? The one you tampered with after using your Allure Power on a civil servant werewolf?”
“Slime?”
Nella twisted her lips.
“What does that filthy slime have to do with anything right now? Give me back my power! Right now! Give it back! Give it back!!”
Freed from the spell, Nella sprang to her feet, baring her nails as she charged at Sunal.
Sunal remained still.
Heavy footsteps rushed toward him from behind as the police came running in.
“Ma’am, please stop.”
The police, equipped with magic-resistant gear to block the Allure Power, restrained Nella.
With that level of equipment, they wouldn’t succumb to her power.
Sunal also began releasing the other spells he had placed on himself, one by one.
“She’s still above the limit. Please arrest her, and start tending to the victims. I’ll make a call and join you shortly.”
Leaving the police in charge, Sunal turned his back to Nella and grabbed his phone.
‘That filthy slime…’
Thinking about Tutoon’s tears made Sunal momentarily furious.
‘Then again, with so many victims, how could she possibly remember them all?’
To Nella, what she did to Tutoon was probably just a trivial prank—a joke to test how much power a senior civil servant could wield.
Sunal stared up at the sky and let out a long sigh before contacting Edina.
“Captain.”
“I’ve caught the culprit.”
“No, I’m going to visit Tutoon first. I’ll tell him personally, so don’t mention anything to him yet.”
Sunal glanced at his wristwatch.
8:39 PM.
“…Damn.”
He cursed, wrinkling his brow, then suddenly opened his eyes wide.
Edina was at the community center.
“Captain?”
“Is this some kind of voice phishing?”
“I’m hungry. Please order something delicious.”
“Thank you.”
Sunal ended the call and gazed up at the sky for a moment.
It was a disgustingly perfect night for working late.
Shoving his things roughly into his bag, Sunal started walking forward, leaving Nella’s screams behind him.