Swish–! Cutting through the air, a flying crescent slash moved with intense velocity and stuck a gathering of trees in the distance.
Accompanied by a thunderous crack, the impact sent splinters flying in every direction. The trees shuddered violently before snapping in half and falling to the ground with a thud.
"Those are the last bunch."
Satisfied, Kelvin smiled and began gathering the scattered wood, stacking the larger trunks carefully while keeping an eye on the smaller, brittle branches.
It had been two full months since he had transmigrated to the New World.
Since then, he had been busy familiarizing himself with his surroundings, training his Dismantle skill, gathering information, and earning precious Valis.
His current city, where he now resided, was called Fortcliff, reminiscent of the modern world, yet distinctly foreign.
The mere thought of being responsible for a Master without a single coin had driven Sera into despair. Accustomed to a life of indulgence, and with an admittedly refined taste for luxury, the stark reality of poverty was crushing. Not wanting to be the 'Irresponsible Master' — and not wanting to starve — Kelvin had resolved to take on a few odd jobs here and there to earn some Valis.
Anything from clearing debris for local households to helping merchants carry goods, he took on whatever work he could manage.
Of course, he made sure to bring Sera along. There was no way he would toil endlessly while she lounged at home. She seemed to carry a trace of resentment toward him for this, but Kelvin had no regrets.
Fortunately, they were spared rent or lodging costs, leaving only food, clothing, and other daily expenses to worry about.
Which brought him towards another problem.
Sera's race.
To his surprise, she was a succubus. Kelvin had noticed this when Sera suddenly revealed her tail and when he inquired about it, she nonchalantly revealed she was a succubus so it was natural for her to have a tail.
But the issue wasn't that he got a succubus as a companion.
What concerned him was her effect on other people.
Everywhere they went, Sera drew attention. Not just casual stares, but lingering, almost hypnotic gazes that made even the most composed townsfolk shift uncomfortably or blush in confusion. Men and women alike seemed drawn to her presence, sometimes going so far as to fumble their words or freeze mid-step when she passed.
For example, there was one woman who slapped her husband for staring at Sera's buttocks with a foolish expression. In another instance, some men shamelessly became so distracted that they nearly caused accidents while walking down the road, one even almost got hit by a passing carriage. Another man, caught up in his own foolishness, was struck by a car and sent sprawling. There was also a would-be thief who attempted to steal an elderly woman's purse; he paused to ogle Sera and ended up beaten black and blue by the very lady he was trying to rob.
Kelvin quickly realized that this wasn't just charm or beauty. It was the inherent aura of a succubus. He had expected to deal with monsters and difficult townsfolk, but controlling the inadvertent effects of his own Companion was an entirely different kind of challenge.
It complicated even simple tasks. Delivering goods, negotiating for odd jobs, or simply walking through the marketplace became a delicate balancing act. Kelvin had to constantly remind himself to maintain distance, while keeping Sera from unintentionally disrupting every transaction they attempted.
Naturally, it was exhausting.
Though there were undeniable benefits to having a phat succubus as a companion, that was a story for another day.
[Your mana proficiency has improved.]
"Is that so?"
[Yes. Not only your proficiency, but your mana output and range as well. Quite a drastic improvement. Though I suppose that's one of the perks of being a Transmigrator. Most people don't improve this quickly.]
"Really? That's… actually a rare compliment from you. Wait, if that's the case…"
[Forget about it.]
"C'mon, won't you teach me Sorcery? Pretty please~"
[No way! Why would I give you all my goodies!?]
"Tsk. So stingy."
[I heard that!]
Kelvin glanced down at the Master Crest on the back of his hand.
Apart from Command, one of its other functions was exclusive long-distance communication between Master and Servant.
"Yo, Kelvin, who are you talking to?"
"No one. I'm almost done on this end."
"Hurry up. The boss said we're leaving early today."
"Is there a special occasion or something?"
"You could say that. Thinking about it, aren't you kinda of new in town? It makes sense that you don't know. Today is Fortcliff's annual Harvest Festival."
A festival?
He had heard murmurs from townsfolk while running errands, but he had never thought much of it. His life had been too occupied with odd jobs, Mana training, and managing Sera's… unique presence.
"Harvest Festival?"
"Yes. It's a celebration for the city's prosperity. Merchants set up stalls, games and contests are held, and there's a parade too. Lots of people, lots of opportunities… for earning or… trouble."
"Trouble, huh."
What an understatement. With Sera around, "lots of people" could easily turn into a disaster. He already knew firsthand the inadvertent effects of her aura, this festival would be a minefield of staring, fainting, and accidental injuries.
Speaking of which, what's up with the radio silence on her end?
Sensing that something was seriously amiss, Kelvin sent a sharp mental message through the crest.
[Don't even think about it!]
[Now that's just mean. Why did you assume this innocent me was going to do something?]
[First of all, don't ever use the word innocent again! I can still remember that prank you played on me. Secondly, I simply don't trust that tone of your voice. It's clear that you're planning something devious so I'm going to use one of my daily commands on you!]
[W-what! That's not fair! I didn't even do anything!]
[You didn't have to do anything. I just don't want to clean up the mess afterward.]
[Hmph. Fine, fine! You're no fun at all.]
Kelvin shook his head, letting out an exhausted sigh.
He glanced at the scattered wood he had just gathered, realizing he barely had time to finish before needing to prepare for the festival. More importantly, there was something else that occurred the free time on his schedule.
I think it should be today. The day my Guild ID will be ready.
Registrated members of the Guild Association were called "Hunters."
Being a Hunter meant having access to resources, information networks, and missions that ordinary citizens could only dream of. Kelvin had heard of the Guilds long before arriving in Fortcliff, but being thrust into a world where earning Valis depended on skill, reputation, and connections made Guild membership all the more appealing. Even for someone like him still learning the ropes, it was clear that registering as a Hunter would open many doors such as the opportunity to further refine his abilities.
Of course, being a Hunter was not without its risks. The work was perilous, with danger lurking in more ways than one, and the chance of losing one's life was ever-present.
Yet it offered what Kelvin needed most:
A challenge.