Is this heaven?

After heating up, he picked up a coat and walked around the town to have a change of pace. Not many people would go out with this freezing cold temperature outside, either they were idle people like Alex, or acquaintances such as those acting suspiciously in front of him…

Alex: Keith, Dust, what are you two doing here?

He met those two when he turned back from the fight with Beldia, after getting resurrected, while he drank with everyone else, he met these two guys and talked a bit about their own experiences in their own parties, but Keith was knocked out from alcohol before Alex could explain his own experiences.

Keith and Dust jumped out in surprise after hearing Alex.

Keith: Wh-What, it's just Alex, don't scare us like that. Really, did you learn Lurk skill from a Thief?

Alex: ...I can't learn anything from other classes.

Dust: Hi. What's up? You're not with those three today?

Dust looked at his side curiously, since he heard about Alex's companions, he was a bit sympathetic for him.

Alex: Nope, it's just me today, don't worry. I was just bored at home and decided to take a stroll. What are you guys doing here?

Dust: No, it's… Because we… You understand? Anyway, it's fine that they're not here. Or rather, it's great that there are no ladies around.

Alex raised an eyebrow, and Keith said deviously.

Keith: You are usually surrounded by beauties, so you don't need such things, but for lonely men like Dust and me…

Dust interrupted him and said.

Dust: Hey, wait. Keith… This guy's situation isn't what you imagined. It might look like a harem at first glance, but it's not like that… He's in the same state as us and has endured much hardship.

Alex: Let's talk back at the guild, this place is cold, I'll pay up for you two.

Then the three of them reached the guild and started to drink beer together, and Keith was the first one to get drunk.

Keith: *Sigh* There's nothing to do this season. I'm bored out of my mind. Here, another glass!

Then he filled another glass for him and laughed out loud.

Dust: *Sigh* ...When winter comes, I want to stick close to someone… To be honest, I know how hard it is on you. But even so, I still envy you this season.

Alex: Right, speaking of which, what were you two doing there just now?

They seemed hesitating about entering the shop that was in the alley, making Alex curious about it.

Keith put down the beer in his hand and made a serious expression.

Keith: Alex, I think you can be trusted. What I'm about to say is a secret among the male adventurers in this town. Alex, can you promise to never reveal this secret to your female party members?

Alex was taken aback from the sudden heavy atmosphere, but nodded.

Alex: I'll use my new skill "Contract" if you want, so we won't be able to say anything even if we want, until I decide to deactivate the contract.

Keith nodded, and Alex's hand glowed while Keith and Dust touched it.

Alex: [Whatever will be said here won't be spoken to any female person] Speak now if there is something else you want to add.

Dust: No, everything's fine.

Alex: [Contract]

Alex, Dust and Keith glowed, before they felt a link between each other.

Keith: Heh, this skill is really useful… 

Alex: Now speak.

Dust: Alex, there are succubi operating a shop in this town. You know that they specialize in gifting wonderful dreams to others, right?

Alex immediately replied.

Alex: Please tell me more.

Dust: There's a group of succubi living in this town. This type of devil specializes in absorbing the irrepressible lust of humans, which is the energy men use to sustain themselves. Hence, male humans are an absolutely necessary existence for them.

Alex nodded and Dust continued to speak.

Dust: That's why they'll absorb our energy, but… The male adventurers in this town have a relationship of mutual assistance. Think about it… We're basically staying in stables. Hence… 

There are many things that are hard to vent, right? With so many other adventurers sleeping around us, even if you're in the mood, you can't do "Anything" about it, right?

Alex: Yes, you are right…

He knew what he was talking about now… Prostitutes, he didn't found any in this town, which was strange. But succubi? Oh god, this will be fun!

Dust: But we can't lay a hand on the female adventurers sleeping near us. If you did that, you would be discovered by the other female adventurers who would gang up on you. Or your target might be hiding a dagger and you would risk getting castrated. Things like that do happen.

...That was oddly specific…

Dust: When we're sleeping, they'll use the chance to show us a wonderful and exciting dream. We'll be refreshed and they can sustain themselves. And they know how to hold back and won't absorb so much that we become unable to continue adventuring.

I've never heard of any adventurers falling into danger because too much of their energy was taken… How about it? Everybody wins, right?

Alex nodded rigorously.

Keith: We were planning to visit that shop for the first time today, and then we met you. And that's the story… How about it? Want to go toge-

Alex: Please bring me with you.

When was the last time he vented…? 

[Later]

After leaving the guild's pub, they went back to the shop in question, Alex didn't understand why the two of them were nervous, maybe it was because he was older than them and already experienced such thing.

At a glance, it looked like a normal restaurant, but…

?: Welcome!

The one greeting us was the person with a body that everyone would dream of…

It was a beautiful woman with a slender body, long pink hair, cyan eyes and pointed ears. She was wearing a lingerie covering her nipples and nether region, and a pair of gloves and stockings. She had some markings around her body as well.

Succubus: Dear customers, is this your first time visiting us?

The three of them nodded, and the smile on the succubus became more brilliant.

Succubus: ...Well then, do you know what kind of shop this is, and who we are?

They nodded in silence once again.

Succubus: Please place your orders. It's fine if you don't order anything either… And please fill in the necessary information on the survey form and hand it in to the cashier when paying your bill.

They took the survey forms that the succubus placed on their table, and read it.

Alex: May I ask, what's this part about our own status, gender and appearance in our dream…?

Succubus: The status part means being, for example, a king or hero in the dream. As for gender and appearance, there are occasionally customers who want to experience how it feels like to be a woman; there are some who want to be a young boy and be forced upon by a strong female adventurer.

Keith timidly raised his hand and asked.

Keith: ...Excuse me, for the setting of the target, how detailed can we be?

Succubus: It can be as detailed as you wish. Personality, favorite phrases, appearance, how much she likes you, any feature and any figure. It's fine even if you asked for a fictional character.

Alex: So… Anything is fine?

Succubus: Yes.

Alex started to smile, and gave the survey back to the succubus, surprising her and his companions.

Alex: Then is it fine if I choose you?

Dust and Keith stared at Alex speechlessly, while the Succubus picked up the survey while looking at Alex, before a strange glint passed through her eyes and started to let out a smile, which was a bit different from before.

Succubus: You are not the first one asking for me… But if you have any other preference you should write it in your survey.

Alex: No, I don't mean doing it in a dream.

His companions' jaws fell in the table in shock, and this time the Succubus was surprised a bit too.

Succubus: Alright, this time you took me by surprise… Are you sure though? Since this won't be a dream, I won't be able to control much the energy I might take.

Alex: It's fine, my job give me quite a big bonus in my physical stats, I will be able to come out on my own feet.

Dust: Damn dude…

Keith: Doing it with a succubus? You are a bit crazy…

Alex: Crazy? I'll tell you what is crazy, fighting against a curse-giving, magical, man-eating unicorn that has enough manpower to oneshot a Demon King's General inside a closed room with razor edges spinning just 4 meters over your head. 

I even got almost killed twice and gained his horn. If it wasn't for Aqua's presence I would have died of pestilence, besides, that thing broke my Overfiend Blade in a single charge! And the blade was unscathered when it fought against Beldia!

Keith/Dust: ...Wow...

Succubus: Hehe, then let's do this. I'll wait for your companions to finish their survey and then we will go together in the back of the shop, alright?

Alex: Alright.