I woke up to find myself soaking inside a hot bath. Steam had completely engulfed the room, so it was hard to see what was around me, but this was most likely the small bath inside my shop.

My memory was somewhat hazy - I don't remember how I managed to fall asleep in my bath, or for how long. The heating tool shouldn't be able to run for more than five minutes without having someone channel mana into it, so it was rather strange for the water to still be hot.

How could I not remember anything from more than five minutes ago?

A few bubbles began to form on the water surface in front of me. As I leaned forward to take a closer look, a woman suddenly emerged from underneath the bubbles!

She had fair white skin and mesmerizing gold eyes. Her bright golden hair, though wet, somehow maintained its wavy form; it almost took my breath away as it brushed against my face when she turned her head. Perhaps the thing that was the most captivating about her were her voluptuous breasts, which were scantily covered with a small gold colored bra. Her brilliance was like the human manifestation of gold and silver.

"Who are you? How did you get here?"

But she only smiled at my question. She started leaning forward, prompting me to back off to the edge of the bath in response.

"Wh-what are you doing?"

With no space left to back into, I could only sit still inside the bath while the mysterious woman leaned her breasts onto my body. She continued smiling while using her soft smooth hand to brush my face.

I started feeling warmer and warmer inside, and it wasn't because of the hot bath water.

From slightly behind the woman, more bubbles formed on the surface. Not long after, something that resembled a fish tail began to surface. It was the same shade of gold as the woman's hair, and its brilliant glow amidst the steam was like a bright light shooting through the fog.

"Are you… a mermaid?"

She giggled while slightly nodding to affirm my question.

Before I could say anything else, she caressed my cheeks with both of her hands, and made a gentle motion to have me lean forward.

My body mindlessly complied to that gesture, and her gentle hands slowly moved down to my shoulders, then to my back.

Her breasts pressed hard against my body as she gave me a warm hug with her hands.

With a gentle pull, she dove under the water, bringing me in her loving embrace along.

When did my bath suddenly become so deep? Was it all an illusion?

My heart was beating faster and faster.

I felt like I could start sweating at any moment, even though I was surrounded by water.

Why does everything feel so real? How am I suddenly able to breathe underwater?

My breathing became more and more rapid, and my voice was trembling.

My mind was drawing a blank. What was even going on?

…

To any other person, this probably would have been a very arousing scene, but I was an archmage who could only use basic magic and intermediate and advanced fire-type spells. Being completely surrounded by water like this was my worst fear, and I was essentially having a panic attack. Yes, I was having symptoms of panic, not of sexual arousal. Well, maybe I had both, actually.

I tried my best to scream out off the top of my lungs. The next thing I knew, I woke up in my bed.

"Ah!"

At my bedside was the succubus librarian from this morning, wearing much more revealing things than the mermaid in that dream earlier. She seemed to have been surprised by my sudden awakening. The bedroom window was wide open, suggesting she came in through there.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"I… I… I'm sorry! I wanted to know what humans taste like!"

What came out of her mouth sounded so wrong, but I think she meant she wanted to know the taste of my… vitality. Succubi were a species that nourished themselves on certain bodily fluids of men that get produced as a result of excitement. In order to achieve their goal, they often employ tricks like dream manipulation in order to cause "wet dreams" to occur.

"You gave me a nightmare, you know!"

"I'm sorry! I thought you liked this kind of stuff from the books you took out this morning!"

"If you're going to do this to me, at least tell me in advance! Don't break in like that!"

"That was wrong of me! I promise I'll ask for permission next time!"

She was in tears as I yelled at her.

"How do you even expect me to be aroused by something I've never even seen before in my life? Aquatic creatures are scary! At least give me a lewd dream about Amber or something!"

"What's that about me? What's with all this ruckus?"

There was only moonlight lighting my room, but the demihuman girl's amber colored eyes pierced through the darkness and shone brightly like the sun.

I don't remember much of what happened after she came into my room that night, but the librarian said she couldn't show her face at work for a couple days. As for me, I had claw marks all over my face that stung for two whole days. Amber also refused to talk to me for an entire day.

On the bright side, the new locks on our windows work really well. It's impossible to break in now. My only complaint is that they look like the bars in prison cells, though…