Mom’s shock melted into a grin, though her eyes still held a hint of disbelief. “Oh, Setsuna-chan, it’s the opposite,” she said, her voice brimming with pride. “Most people don’t awaken any skills right after their transformation. But you? You’ve got several skills, including a unique one! That’s practically unheard of!”

  I blinked, trying to process her words as I scanned the screen. My status was a dizzying list of details: my name, age (20, but apparently I looked 16 now), race (half-dragon, half-succubus), and a slew of abilities. Insight Veil caught my eye—a skill that let me see hidden truths about people, like some kind of magical lie detector. There was also Draconic Strength, Succubus Charm, and something called Energy Manipution, which was marked as “locked.” My titles—Veiled Heir, Emberheart Prodigy, and The One Touched by Lust Deity—sounded cool but cryptic. And then there was the Lust Body Curse, a paragraph that made my face burn just skimming it.

  Dad returned to his seat, letting out a heavy sigh. “She’s inherited your curse, Lilith,” he said, his tone ced with resignation. “I’d hoped our child would be spared that burden, but there’s no changing it now.”

  “Curse?” I turned to him, my heart pounding. “What does that mean, Dad?” The word “curse” sounded ominous, like something out of a horror game. Was I doomed or something?

  Mom stepped in, her voice gentler than usual. “It’s called the Lust Body Curse, Setsuna-chan. As a succubus, you need to… well, engage in physical intimacy every three days to stay healthy.” She paused, watching my reaction. “If you don’t, you’ll get sick—fevers, weakness, even life-threatening problems. It’s worse for you because of your mixed blood. But!” She brightened, trying to lighten the mood. “The upside is, when you do, you’ll produce way more energy than a normal succubus—four times as much! That energy can power your skills, make you stronger, faster, everything!”

  My face went from red to volcanic. Physical intimacy? Every three days? My mind bnked, embarrassment crashing over me like a tidal wave. I wasn’t even used to this body yet, and now I had to… what? I buried my face in my hands, groaning. “This is a nightmare.”

  Dad’s eyes softened, a rare glimpse of sympathy. “It’s a heavy burden, Setsuna. But you’re strong. You’ll find a way to manage it.”

  I barely heard him, my thoughts spiraling. The status screen still hovered, taunting me with its details. One line caught my eye: Partners: 01 (Himiyama Akari, Lover). My heart skipped a beat. Akari. My girlfriend. Well, she was my girlfriend when I was Shiro, anyway. We’d only been dating a few weeks—shy confessions, awkward hand-holding, stolen kisses in the park. She was sweet, with her soft brown eyes and infectious ugh, and I’d been over the moon when she said yes to me. But now? Now I was… this. A futanari with a curse that sounded like it belonged in one of those weird fantasy novels I used to read. Would she even want me anymore?

  Dad’s voice pulled me back. “This title… The One Touched by Lust Deity,” he said, his brow furrowing as he stared at the screen. “I’ve never heard of it. It’s unusual, even for our kind.” He leaned back, his fingers steepled, lost in thought. For someone who ruled Japan’s underworld, that kind of uncertainty was rare.

  Mom waved a hand dismissively, her pyful smirk returning. “Oh, Ryuji, let’s not overthink it. It’s probably just a fancy way of saying she’s extra special!” She turned to me, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “So, Setsuna-chan, you and Akari-chan, huh? When were you going to tell your dear mother about this adorable romance?”

  “Mom!” I squeaked, my face fming again.

  “That’s… personal!” I crossed my arms, trying to hide my embarrassment. Lilith’s teasing was relentless, but it was hard to stay mad at her when she looked so genuinely delighted.

  Lilith ughed, a musical sound that filled the room. “Oh, come on, you can’t keep secrets from me! I’m dying to hear all about this Akari-chan. Is she cute? Does she make your heart race?” She leaned closer, her crimson eyes gleaming.

  Dad cleared his throat, a subtle warning. “Lilith, focus. Setsuna needs to understand her status, not gossip about her love life.”

  “Fine, fine,” Mom pouted, but she shot me a conspiratorial wink. “We’ll talk ter, Setsuna-chan.”

  I sighed, my gaze drifting back to the status screen. Despite the embarrassment, a part of me was curious. Insight Veil sounded powerful, like something a hero in a game would have. And the energy thing, even if it came with a mortifying curse, could be useful, right? But the Lust Deity title nagged at me. It felt… heavy, like it meant more than Mom was letting on.

  “Okay,” I said finally, my voice steadier. “So, what do I do now? How do I… deal with all this?” I gestured at the screen, at myself, at the whole impossible situation.

  Mom’s smile softened, and she reached out to squeeze my hand. “You learn, Setsuna-chan. You train, you grow, and you figure out who you are. We’ll help you every step of the way.”

  Dad nodded, his expression resolute. “Your powers are just beginning to surface. The Kuromori Cn has resources—trainers, archives, allies. We’ll teach you to control your skills and manage the curse.”

  I swallowed, a mix of fear and determination settling in my chest. This was my life now. No more hiding as Shiro, no more normal. I was Setsuna, a half-dragon, half-succubus with a destiny I didn’t understand. And Akari… I didn’t know what the future held for us, but I wasn’t ready to let her go.

  As the status screen faded, I took a deep breath. “Alright,” I said. “Let’s do this.”