The dim room of the inn was shrouded in silence.
Luxer lay on the creaking bed, his eyes fixed on the ceiling as an unfamiliar warmth pulsed within his chest. A strange sensation washed over his soul—gentle yet unsettling—while a faint shadow drifted above his head, swaying like smoke in the wind, breathing in and out as though alive.
"So it really is a low-rank Martial Soul…" Luxer muttered, his tone half-resigned, half-bitter.
He had hoped—just once—for something greater.
A proper Martial Soul should ignite sparks of power in one's consciousness, or condense ether within the chest, or at the very least stir some faint connection to the natural energies.
But his awakening had triggered none of these signs. His perception of mana was blank, his psychic sense mute, and his body felt no different than before.
In short—his cultivation path was sealed.
He let out a long breath. "Tch… tiring."
It had been five months since his reincarnation into this world. With his mature mind, he had clawed his way into the Royal Academy, studied diligently, and finally reached the day of awakening… only to end up with this.
An Incubus Soul.
Others sneered and called it a "low demon-type Martial Soul." But Luxer knew better. The moment his eyes fell upon its vague silhouette, he recognized it for what it was: the shadow of an Incubus.
A soul said to grant nothing but [Charm Lv. 1], a pathetic passive skill that made him slightly more handsome. No combat ability. No cultivation advantage. Useless.
"At least give me some seduction skills, you bastard soul," he cursed under his breath.
With a thought, he pulled open the translucent status panel that floated into view.
[Status]
Name: Luxer Went
Martial Soul: Low-Demon Kind (Incubus)
Cultivation Paths: Low-grade Martial, Low-grade Magus, Low-grade Psychic
Strength: 2
Agility: 3
Vitality: 4
Intelligence: 4
Dexterity: 2
Spirit: 7
Realm: Low Level
Unique Trait: [Incubus Codex] – Inactive
"Hm?"
Luxer froze. His eyes widened as his gaze locked onto the faint golden script glowing at the bottom of the panel.
"…Incubus Codex?" he whispered.
When his fingers brushed against the hovering glyph, a surge of energy exploded through his consciousness. A torrent of information poured directly into his mind, so vast and intricate that his skull felt like it would split apart.
Then, clarity.
It wasn't just some passive annotation. This was… a Codex. A secret system hidden within his soul, a forbidden inheritance.
"So… this is the cheat I was reincarnated with…"
The Codex spoke of containers—several sealed "Codices," each holding powers beyond imagination. But there was a catch: each one required a special key to unlock.
Luxer's lips curved into a faint, almost feral smile.
"Looks like this world isn't done with me yet."
Click…
The sound of the door latch echoed in the quiet room. Luxer lifted his head slightly and found a lithe figure stepping inside. A girl, about his age, slipped through with a lightness to her steps, her face bright with an innocent smile.
"Brother Luxer! You're here after all!"
Her cheerful voice filled the silence, brushing away the heavy thoughts that had weighed on him moments ago.
With her slim waist, delicate frame, and the pure gleam in her eyes, she carried a charm that was easy to appreciate—tempting, even. Yet Luxer only offered her a faint, polite smile.
After all, she was among the chosen—her Martial Soul, the Astral Bird, wasn't top-tier, but it was far more promising than the Incubus Soul he bore.
Compared to her path, his was nothing but a dead end.
The girl's smile faltered for an instant when she caught the shadow in his expression. Her lips parted, then closed, as if she were unsure what to say.
Panic flickered in her eyes before determination replaced it.
"Brother Luxer," she said softly, "don't be disheartened. There are… there are countless resources out there to aid cultivation! With your persistence, I'm certain you'll surpass others in no time. Your talent… it isn't something so easily measured."
Her voice trembled slightly, but the sincerity behind it warmed the air.
Luxer chuckled under his breath. Even here, where the strong preyed on the weak, there were still people who tried to offer comfort.
Perhaps it was his so-called charm—his Incubus Soul's only passive trait—that made it easier for people, especially women, to lean toward him.
Back in the city, his good looks and calm nature had already drawn attention.
And through their travels, he had built a quiet bond with this girl and her companion, her boyfriend, who had even invited him to share a room for the night.
"Thanks," Luxer said gently.
The single word carried a weight that made her cheeks flush. She blinked, startled, then turned her head quickly as if hiding from her own reaction.
Strange… he looks even more handsome than before… she thought, biting her lip before shaking her head as if to clear the foolish notion.
Murmuring something inaudible, the girl excused herself with a hurried bow and slipped back out. He heard the faint click of the door next door as she entered the room she shared with her boyfriend.
Once more, silence reclaimed Luxer's chamber. Only this time, a faint trace of warmth lingered in the air.
Luxer exhaled, his lips curving faintly, though his eyes remained sharp.
"Charm, huh?" he muttered, recalling the useless skill his Martial Soul had bestowed. But for the first time, he wondered if perhaps even the weakest of abilities could become a blade, given the right hand to wield it.
The faint glow of the Codex interface shimmered before Luxer's eyes. With a cautious breath, he tapped the icon, and new tabs unfolded like blooming petals of gold. One in particular pulsed with an inviting light—too eye-catching to ignore.
[Daily Quest.]
[Objective: Have physical intimacy with a female of your choice.]
[Reward: 10 EXP.]
[Note: Experience may increase based on depth of contact and intensity of interaction.]
Luxer's expression twisted into something between disbelief and resignation.
"So… it really is tied to an Incubus."
The wording left no room for interpretation.
This was no simple cultivation technique.
His path forward demanded acts others would deem indecent, yet the Codex presented them as casually as breathing.
What struck him most was the line about "scaling rewards." The deeper the intimacy, the greater the EXP. No monster to slay, no dungeon to risk his life in.
Just a touch—perhaps a kiss, perhaps more.
It was absurd. But also… undeniably powerful.
He forced his gaze back to the panel, where a new line caught his attention. A "Level" indicator had appeared beside his status. In this world, no such thing should exist.
Cultivation dictated growth—step by grueling step, realm by realm. To see something so… game-like—granting free status points with each level—was nothing short of heresy.
"This Codex isn't just a Martial Soul… it's rewriting the very rules," Luxer muttered.
Curiosity urged him to scroll further until his eyes fell upon another pulsing tab. This one glowed with a sharper light, like a secret beckoning him closer.
[Instance Quest.]
[Condition: Holland will be absent tonight. Celia will be alone. Spend time in conversation with her to raise her favorability and lose your v-status.]
[Reward: Hidden Skill Card + 200 EXP.]
The words sent a ripple through him.
Celia.
His gaze darkened as her image surfaced in his mind—the innocent girl who had just left his room, her face blushing under the weight of his smile.
The Codex seemed to whisper, predicting her loneliness, dangling temptation with frightening precision.
Luxer clenched his fists.
"…This damned system," he breathed.
On one hand, it was outrageous—immoral, even. On the other, the rewards were unlike anything he had ever dreamed of.
A Hidden Skill Card? Such treasures were the kind of things prodigies fought blood-soaked battles over, and here it was, offered to him through a simple… choice.
For a moment, Luxer's mind wavered. The thought of Celia's smile, her soft concern earlier, and her trust stirred something both guilty and tempting within him.
He couldn't deny she was beautiful, nor deny that his Incubus nature responded to her unconsciously.
He closed his eyes, inhaling slowly.
"I should refuse… but that would be a lie," he admitted to himself.
His heart steadied as clarity returned. Whether he accepted it or not, the Codex wasn't giving him the option to ignore its existence. The path of the Incubus was already carved into his soul. He could fight it—or he could seize it.
Luxer opened his eyes, his expression calm, almost cold.
"If this is the path I've been given, then I'll walk it my way."
The Codex pulsed faintly in response, as if acknowledging his resolve.
[Status]
Name: Luxer Went
Martial Soul: Low-Demon Kind (Incubus)
Cultivation Paths: Low-grade Martial, Low-grade Magus, Low-grade Psychic.
Level: 1. [0/100]
Strength: 2
Agility: 3
Vitality: 4
Intelligence: 4
Dexterity: 2
Spirit: 7
Realm: Low Level
Unique Trait: [Incubus Codex] – Active.
[Daily Quest] [Min]
[Instance Quest] [Min]
[Main Quest] [Empty]