Prologue – The End of Light and Shadow
The sky split open, a wound carved across heaven that would never heal.Purple lightning writhed through black clouds, bathing the broken land in a sickly glow.
From the sea of mist, a towering figure rose. His armor burned like charred fire, crimson cracks crawling across his chest. Red eyes blazed within the darkness—an accursed embodiment never seen before.
Opposite him, the last remnant of radiance struggled to hold on.A lone figure knelt on shattered stone, drenched in blood, clutching the final fragments of light. The glow was fractured, imperfect—yet it still pierced the suffocating dark.
Light and shadow clashed. For a heartbeat, the world fell silent. Then the shockwave tore the land apart, mountains shattering, rivers reversing their flow.
When the dust settled, only silence remained.The black-armored giant collapsed to his knees, the crack in his chest dimming as he sank into slumber.The burning light vanished, leaving behind only a scorched fragment of a scroll, buried quietly beneath the ruins.
From that day on, the northern sky bore a scar of black lightning.People believed Light and Shadow had perished together.
Reality – Bai Xin, the Overworked Drone
Cold fluorescent lights hummed above the office.Spreadsheets glared back at Bai Xin's tired eyes, numbers blinking as if mocking her.
"My beautiful Bai Xin, still working this late?"The last male colleague teased from the doorway.
She stretched her neck with a yawn. "When am I not stuck here? Don't worry, I'm almost done.""Then I'll head out. Don't stay too long.""Yeah, yeah. Bye."
Alone again, she muttered, "Just finish this and I can finally go home… binge anime—that's the real business."
Her paycheck was fine, her life suffocating.The real torment wasn't the overtime but her pig-faced boss with his disgusting stares, buzzing around her like a fly.If not for labor laws, she would've slapped him into orbit already.
By the time she staggered back to her cramped apartment, it was past midnight.Takeout boxes piled on the desk, shelves stuffed with dust-covered manga.
"Home sweet home…" she sighed, kicking off her heels and padding barefoot across the cold floor.
Hot water spilled over her shoulders, easing the ache in her back."If only life could always feel like this," she whispered.
She pulled on a loose white T-shirt and black spats, threw together instant noodles, and curled up in front of her computer.On screen, an overpowered protagonist swung his magic sword in a blaze of glory.
Bai Xin laughed through weary eyes, tears glinting."God, that feels good… if only real life worked like this."
The noodles went half-eaten. Exhaustion pinned her down."Twelve hours at the office… half my life's gone already," she mumbled, burrowing into bed.The monitor flickered. Voices blurred into dreams.
"Next life… let me…" she whispered before darkness claimed her.
Awakening – The Grassland
Blinding light pierced her eyelids.Bai Xin jolted awake, wind howling in her ears, damp grass brushing her cheek.
The smell wasn't instant noodles—it was earth, fresh and sharp.
She sat up, stunned.An endless plain stretched before her, sky vast and blue, a wolf's howl echoing far away.
"Whoa… what the hell…" she rubbed her eyes, turning left, then right."One second… five seconds… ten seconds…""What is this place!?"
Her scream startled two sparrows into flight.
It felt like a cruel prank—an exhausted office worker thrown onto some wilderness camping trip.
The bushes rustled."Ahhh!" Bai Xin yelped, tumbling backward.
A boy peeked out, clutching a wooden pail. Wide-eyed, he stared—no, stared at her legs.
Her cheeks flared hot. Seriously? Even kids are this bold?
She cleared her throat. "Uh, little guy, what's wrong?"
The boy turned beet red and shouted,"Big sister, why are you dressed so weird!? Why aren't you wearing pants!?"
"What!?" Bai Xin looked down. White T-shirt. Black spats."This is pants!"
The boy recoiled in horror."Pervert demon lady! I'm telling my mom!" He bolted.
Bai Xin froze, twitching."Pervert demon!? How does spats equal indecent!?"
Goblin Chase
Before she could recover, heavy breathing rasped behind her.
"Heh heh… human female…"
Three green-skinned goblins crept from the grass, eyes glowing red, broken weapons in hand.
"She's perfect…""Smooth skin…""Delicious…"
Bai Xin turned scarlet, nearly crying. "Delicious!? What the hell is wrong with you!?"
She bolted, goblins shrieking behind her.
"Catch her!""She's feisty—just the boss's type!"
"Shut up! Who wants to be caught!?" she screamed, legs burning.
At the brink of collapse, a low stone wall rose ahead—a town.
"Yes! Civilization!"
Guards on the gate shouted."Goblins! Ready arrows!"
Arrows rained down, felling the pursuers.
Bai Xin collapsed in front of the gate, gasping.
Pants Demon
"Stand up! Who are you? Where from?"Spears leveled at her chest.
Bai Xin threw up her hands. "Not a monster! I was just chased! I almost died!"
The guards muttered."Strange clothes…""Could be a heretic cultist…""No, look at her legs—"
"Excuse me!?"
The captain barked, "Why aren't you wearing pants!?"
Bai Xin exploded. "These ARE pants! They're called shorts! SHOOOORTS!"
The guards exchanged grim looks."She speaks nonsense…""She must be cursed…"
A stout aunt in the crowd folded her arms."I'm telling you, she's the Demon of Pants!"
Bai Xin: "WHAT!?"
Children screamed, "Mom! Her legs bite, don't they!?"
Her face crumpled. Great. First goblins, now I'm a pants demon. Just kill me already.
Interrogation
Cold iron doors slammed.She huddled in the corner of the cell."Unbelievable… goblins outside, prison inside. This world has it in for me…"
A thin man entered, glasses glowing faintly with runes."Name?""…Bai Xin. Just a normal person.""Origin?""You wouldn't understand. Another world."
Silence. Guards stared like she'd sprouted horns.
"So you claim you're… an otherworlder?" the man asked.
Bai Xin rolled her eyes. "Better than believing I'm a pants demon, right?"
The guards nearly snorted.
The inspector adjusted his glasses."To confirm you're not a monster, I'll examine your mana. This lens reveals life's essence."
He froze.What he saw was not a monster's core, but an ocean of light—far beyond any archmage.
His hand trembled. "Impossible…"
Bai Xin panicked. "Wait, am I gonna explode!?"
The Guildmaster
The air grew heavy.Heels clicked against stone.
A tall woman entered, leather gear hugging her frame, auburn hair tied high, golden badge at her waist.
"Guildmaster!" the guards saluted.
Bai Xin shrank into the corner. Oh crap, she looks like she eats rookies for breakfast…
The woman ignored the whispers, walked straight up, and pressed her hand against Bai Xin's stomach.
"Wha—hey! Hands off!" Bai Xin shrieked, blushing furiously.Too close! Too close!
The guildmaster's eyes widened at the surge of mana under her fingertips."…So it's true."
She leaned down, gaze sharp yet strangely soft."Bai Xin… join the Adventurers' Guild."
Bai Xin's brain short-circuited."…Huh?"
Yesterday I was an office slave. Today I'm a pants demon. Now they want me as guild VIP!?
The world had truly gone insane.
End of Chapter 1.