Chapter 2: The Fruit of Fate

The starving Astaroth looked up at the sky. The weather was fine, the stars were bright, and the moon was full. So why was no one choosing him as a customer?

It wasn't that nobody ever came, but he couldn't keep clinging to old regulars forever. If he could, he still had to find new customers.

But the moment new customers saw his body, they would shriek, "Fuck!! Are you a man or a woman? You're even bigger than me, no, no, no!! Get the hell out!!"

Sigh... Dear Mother Goddess of Desire, stop watching the show and take pity on your people. I haven't had a customer in two days. At this rate, I may starve to death... Astaroth silently prayed in his heart, but the mother goddess gave no answer, as if that silence itself were her consent.

Sigh... he'd stood here on this street for a long time. Should he go back and look for Harden and the others?

Forget it, relying on other people for handouts all the time isn't good. A succubus had to live with some backbone!!

Who told him a body and face like his weren't to the public taste? Nothing he could do about it.

An intersex succubus was exactly that kind of existence, as if some god had used a test subject and fused two sexes together to see whether something new and surprising would emerge.

I’m so jealous of female succubi. Being the same sex as the Mother Goddess of Desire means you get all the favor. They’re rare, stunning, powerful, natural favorites, standing at the very top of the succubus hierarchy.

If you're an ordinary male succubus, the pressure to survive is a little heavy, but you can attach yourself to a female succubus and hunt within the territory she claims.

Curious why intersex succubi don't work?

Wouldn't having both sexes at once be even more advantageous?

Hmm. At first I thought so too, but, uh, how do I put it? The good you imagine and the good in reality aren't the same. I mean, uh, intersex beings all have some sort of defect, more or less.

For example, someone like me is, uh, not very bright, a bit stupid. But I think that's actually nothing. I don't know what that has to do with not being able to find customers... ah!!

Astaroth, who are you even explaining these settings to? There isn't a single person in front of you. Only you. Have you lost your mind from hunger?

Forget it, forget it. No customers today. That's the end of it.

Damn, I almost forgot I can't go any farther. That's Karpo's territory. I got beaten up there just last week. What kind of succubus lacks even that little bit of solidarity? I didn't even "take" two of his customers. Was that really necessary?

Sigh. No helping it. Reality is this cruel. Everyone lives by strength.

If you have the ability, you eat your fill. If you eat your fill, you're strong. If you're strong, you're more attractive. The more attractive you are, the more "food" comes pouring in.

Too bad theirs was a virtuous cycle, while mine was a vicious one.

Why, why can I never find customers?

Does no one like me?

Always alone... so lonely... I want someone to hunt with, too. I want protection. I... I don't want to be alone anymore!!

If heaven won't give it to me, I'll create it myself!!

...

...

Astaroth knelt before the mother tree planted by the Mother Goddess of Desire and prayed: "Mother Goddess of Desire above, please grant Astaroth a miracle!!" He knew this was wrong. No one ever interfered when the fruit fell; inside were immature succubi, his younger brothers and sisters.

But he really wanted it...

He stood up, looked around, and reached toward the most beautiful fruit on the treetop, faintly glowing and exuding an alluring fragrance, then stopped...

Astaroth, are you really going to do this?

Do you know how shameful this is? Even in the demon realm, no one would lay a hand on something that hasn't been born yet?

...Yes, I know. I know it's shameful. Even the weakest would look down on doing something like this, and if anyone found out, I'd be laughed at for the rest of my life.

But... but I really have no choice. I'm despicable!!

Shameful!!

Shameless!!

But absolutely not out of malice!!

I want companionship, I want protection!!

What's wrong with that?

What does it feel like to never get enough to eat, to be driven away, despised, beaten? That kind of pain... never again!!

The fruit had been plucked, heavy and weighty.

It felt a little furry, with strange patterns, warm to the touch. If he focused, he could feel a faint pulse. Was that its heartbeat?

Astaroth leaned in, wanting to look more closely, to hear it with his ear...

Crack. The fruit split open, startling him. Inside was a baby's face, violet eyes staring right at him.

...Something seems off. Shouldn't a succubus hatch in the form of a boy or a girl? Astaroth wondered.

...Uh, was it because it was too immature and got plucked by force? Could I still put it back?...Seems like not.

Astaroth hesitated for a moment, then started apologizing: "I'm truly sorry..." So tiny. Could it even understand him? Forget it, don't apologize yet. Let's check the sex first.

A girl!!

A female succubus!!

"That's great. Thank you, Mother Goddess of Desire. From now on, Astaroth will definitely protect her and cherish her properly. My life will be with you from this day forward!!" With pious gratitude, he pressed his lips to her forehead... Lilith, you must grow up well. Someday you'll protect me, okay~