I woke up. It seemed to be morning. I looked down, smiling wryly, as I felt Silinthia tracing small circles onto my chest. I had confirmed, quite vigorously, that she had both sets of genitals last night.
She looked up at me and-
“You’ll be leaving soon right?”
I blinked. Well, that was a smack to the face. She chuckled at me.
“Don’t take it the wrong way. I just want to set the lines clear. Strangers with benefits?” She smiled that charming smile. I smiled back.
“I don’t see why it can’t be friends with benefits. I’ve got at least a few friends quite a distance away. But yeah, I’ll be heading off within a few… weeks? Maybe? Probably. It’s been one disaster after the other with slight moments to relax. The last few weeks have felt like months.”
Silinthia chuckled again.
“Life of an Adventurer.”
That struck me a little. Was that really the life of an adventurer? Crisis after crisis with small breaks. I frowned and huffed a little.
“Well, let’s hope not. I much prefer to see new places, bunch a monster or two to death, and generally relax.”
“Well let’s get started on the last part~. There’s still an hour or so before I have to get to work.”
She moved her head and body downwards and I reacted by nearly flinching out of the bed. She froze for a moment.
“...Are we gonna talk about whatever that was?”
“...The last time an elf gave me a blowjob, let’s just say, they didn’t stop. It was great but… intense.”
She laughed at me.
“Well, I promise to go nice and slow.”
As her lips wrapped around my cock, I relaxed in bed. God, being rich with an attractive woman, no, futa was the absolute best. I’d have to consider retiring to this cozy little town one day. It’s not even that far from where Selve and Celena are.
****
After making different room arrangements, I couldn’t bunk with Silinthia every night, I considered what to do. I had been excited to explore but for the first time… I really had nothing to do. I needed shoes, I needed a few basic supplies, I had needed to go to the church to maybe get superpowers, and now? Now, I sat down at an empty patio in a seat and just stared up at the sky.
It hadn’t truly hit me, hadn’t truly settled in me. I was unburdened, free from responsibility. I could retire right now in this town, more or less with the money I had, and be fine. Better than fine. The only thing stopping me… was my own goals.
It felt overwhelming but I smiled anyway. The sky was blue, the world was wide, and nothing was impossible. I closed my eyes and fully relaxed, feeling the wind and air brush against me. It almost tickled my tail. I got up, taking a deep, mighty breath.
My goals were basic. I wanted to travel, to sightsee, to explore. This world was so large. Along the way, I’d find that damn potion of transformation or hell, maybe I’d find an alchemist that could have it commissioned. Heading to the elven capital then, where people like that might exist, might be my best bet.
But first, I did have something to do today now that I thought about it. I needed to register as an adventurer.
I prepared myself for bullshit, feeling like my run of good luck was about to dry up into nothing. Every time, in every book I’ve ever read, it never ends well when someone goes to apply for membership at the guild.
Some quick directions from some elves sitting nearby and off I went. Honestly, walking through the town was weird. I saw the looks from humans, and a few elves too, of hate and disgust. But compared to Riary trying to melt me into a puddle it seemed… cute? Quaint at least. Hate me all you’d like random strangers, your country was invaded and torn apart by my race, I get it. I’ll settle for you not attacking me.
The Adventurer’s guild soon loomed into my vision. It was constructed in the same odd way as the rest of the town but it was certainly, well, large. It was a whole building. It looked like the size of a high school but with four stories. I just gaped at it for a moment. Why on earth do you need a building so big huh?! Don’t adventurers just come, do quests, and leave?!
I walked in and the lobby was full. Full and diverse. I’d seen mostly humans and elves, but now I saw a few more dwarves. There was a clear lobby with lines to different tellers. But before that it seemed, like, well a proper ‘Guild’. I had expected just lines and a quest board, but the lobby was large. It looked like a tavern or inn, and to the side I did see a small food and bar area, but mostly there were just few around a dozen tables and chairs. There were Adventurers sitting there, taking in a small meal with a drink of some sort. Others were clearly just relaxing in more comfortable seating. People were talking or relaxing and I saw a few signs hanging over hallways, indicating a training yard and a monster drop off point. I hadn’t seen anyone carrying around a corpse in the town or otherwise, but I suppose the guild did have other entrances. There was a second floor balcony, with more seats and more people.
I headed over to the teller, getting a lot of unpleasant looks. These were rough people, use to murder and bloodshed of a sort at least, and most of them seemed to be humans. I made it all the way to the receptionist before I saw someone heading towards me. I knew my good luck wouldn’t hold for long.
He was a large guy, axe on his back, burly, full beard. He looked like a wild mountain man coming to pick a fight. At least I assumed that angry look on his face said it all. I was calm and that sensation caught me by surprise. Not that I was calm, my power told me he wasn’t a threat. No, it was that I had begun to rely on it so much that caught me by surprise. We weren’t a threat to Vanessa and still killed her. Even if my power might have sent some different signals only near the end, that didn’t change that it was more of a ‘power gauge’ than a ‘danger sense’ and I had better remember that or I was going to be killed.
My stance and expression didn’t change but my attitude sure did. I went from being uncaring to cautious. The man walked right up to me and I caught the receptionist and a few others giving him warning looks.
“What do you think you’re doing here, Demon?”
He practically spat the last word.
“I intend to become an Adventurer.”
That only seemed to enrage him and a few others. Before he could say anything though, I felt a presence. A presence stronger than me. Again, I was caught by surprise, not by that but by the fact I hadn’t realized I was the strongest in the room. My power, it was fine to be use to it, but seriously, I was just ignoring the fact that I was stronger than everyone else here? Hardened, battle made, adventurers? I should have noticed that immediately! The demon race… was truly unfair wasn’t it?
I turned around towards the powerful presence, keeping the angry man in my line of sight. He wasn’t just somewhat more powerful than me, I felt him approaching The Heroes level of power. A ‘high’ C-rank individual then.
Looking at him, I realized immediately that this was probably the Guild Leader. Elf, with a white beard and long hair. Thin but muscular. Despite his white beard and hair, he only looked middle age at most. He wore an interesting form of robe I hadn’t seen before. Maybe I should call it a Tunic? It was all one piece and went below his legs, but it was tight on his body. I could see the impression his arms and I was fairly sure he had abs. He carried a Glaive with him, a weapon I hadn’t seen anyone else wield so far.
He looked at the angry man next to me.
“Enough Ryan.”
“But!”
“Enough.”
His word carried more weight to it, a natural commanding tone that had me feeling like I should stand up straight. The man behind me fumed for a second, before nodding and walking off. The Guild Leader looked at me and walked a few steps closer. All eyes were on us.
“We don’t get too many demons in our town. I’m Viciknia.”
He offered me a handshake with his off hand, one I took.
“Derek.”
As we shook, he stared into my eyes. I was glad he wasn’t pulling the classic ‘Squeeze hand’ thing at least.
“Hmm. Well, you’ll get the basic spiel in a moment. I only have one question. What made you decide to be an Adventurer? Money, bloodlust?”
He said that in such a casual tone, I couldn’t tell whether he was being judgemental or not. Either way, I shrugged.
“Exploration I suppose. See the sights, do a few things while I’m there, that sort of thing.”
“I see, I see.” He said, while stroking his beard. “No need to be an Adventurer for that though, no?”
Hmm, well I suppose not but he’s not entirely right either.
“It would be less interesting.”
Who knows what quests I’d end up on or things I’d end up doing? A simple task to go clear a cave of monsters might let me stumble onto ancient ruins or a dungeon or something. This world, it wasn’t better than the modern while. It was, substantially worse. But that just meant I needed to focus on the positives even more. Magic, futanari apparently, the ability for me to change my body, and exploration. I wanted to go on crazy adventures! Just not ones that risked me dying. I had had enough of that.
The man in front of me finally shrugged and waved as he walked off. I waved back and then I stood in line. Stood in line, while I kept receiving glares that could kill. Which was… still cute. That was probably a weird way to feel about hate but it is what it is.
Finally, it was my turn and… honestly the process was simple.
But the Guild Leader had been right about the Spiel.
“You’re starting as a D-rank combatant. You’ll only be able to take up to D-Rank missions and…”
Utterly. Boring. The nice receptionist explained it all but good lord, I thought I was going to fall asleep on my feet. Finally, something interesting happened.
“What’s your designation?”
“Come again?”
“Your designation, what role you’d primarily take up in a party. We have different types available. Mage, Priest, Healer, Warrior, Alchemist, Strategist, etc. It’s important for finding different groups and for our records.”
I hadn’t known something like that was available. Tyler probably was a straight up ‘Tank’ or whatever they called them here. I thought about what I was. A man that doesn’t know how to use a sword, doesn’t know how to fight, and got by on pure luck, enhanced strength from my body, and my brain. My main method of fighting had been ‘Rip it apart with my claws and tail’.
“Fist fighter?”
Sure, I could have gone with swordsman and maybe I’d update it to that… the second I knew how to use a sword.
The receptionist, ‘Cherry’ strangely, simply nodded and added a little fist imprint to my badge. The badge was interesting. Dull grey and long like a headband. Clearly meant to be worn slightly under the neck. I was probably going to just stuff it in my bag.
I grabbed it, thanked the woman, and left.
…and that was it. I was shocked and surprised. I had expected something more to happen. But besides one angry man and a talk with the guild leader, that had been it. I moved quickly though, worried about being jumping me in broad daylight. I didn’t head directly back to my inn, that very worry preventing me from doing so.
When you had nothing to do, could just relax, the days seemed so much longer. It wasn’t even properly lunch time yet.
I sighed in appreciation and I wasn’t the only one. Elves, all around me, like plants were just relaxing. I felt stupid really. I remember my thoughts about how the long age of Elves meant they shouldn’t be working and now, here wasn’t I the buffoon? Most of them simply didn’t, unless they wanted more.
And so, I talked. I relaxed. I talked to different Elves sharing stories, sharing lives, sharing food or drinks. Strangers, till they weren’t. Boring, till they got interested. Even if none of the people I talked to worked, that didn’t mean they did nothing. In fact, the opposite was true. Almost all of them had a hobby of some sort. Painting, writing, reading, one man even made wooden jewelry. That was when I finally learned that plant shaping was one of the benefits of being part of the Elven Church. That, with that particular God, summoning physical light that would last. Because Gods were weird. Truth Goddess? Truth and here’s the power to heal. God of money? Fortune finding and also shields. God of plants? Wood growing, oh but also, here’s the ability to make floating balls of light.
Why? Who knows. Not me, nor anyone I had talked to could answer that question. Gods were just amusing that way.
The stress from my journey was fully seeping away but honestly? I was getting restless. I wanted to do something. I might honestly leave sooner than expected.
Which, because the world hates me, was the moment I heard a scream. I ran towards it, already fiddling with my sword. I had gotten good at pulling it off my back but I hadn’t sparred with Tyler since we’d come here. It wasn’t like he was a master trainer either. I’d have to rely on basic ‘swish swish stab’ and my tail.
I turned a corner and saw something horrifying in the setting sun. It was a body. But if that was all, I wouldn’t feel sick. The body was… maimed. But maimed with intent. There were lines all around it, made of blood. The body itself… it had tears going through it, in a pattern.
A crowd was forming, as the body was in the middle of the street. The guards had already arrived, including one with a different wooden symbol on the front. A guard captain, probably. I blinked when I noticed three other people I hadn’t expected.
Tyler, Riary, and Konohora.
I was considering what the hell to do, when the Guard Captain spoke up.
“Second one this month…” He sighed, then turned to address the crowd.
“We’re dealing with Cultists.”
What?
I woke up. It seemed to be morning. I looked down, smiling wryly, as I felt Silinthia tracing small circles onto my chest. I had confirmed, quite vigorously, that she had both sets of genitals last night.
She looked up at me and-
“You’ll be leaving soon right?”
I blinked. Well, that was a smack to the face. She chuckled at me.
“Don’t take it the wrong way. I just want to set the lines clear. Strangers with benefits?” She smiled that charming smile. I smiled back.
“I don’t see why it can’t be friends with benefits. I’ve got at least a few friends quite a distance away. But yeah, I’ll be heading off within a few… weeks? Maybe? Probably. It’s been one disaster after the other with slight moments to relax. The last few weeks have felt like months.”
Silinthia chuckled again.
“Life of an Adventurer.”
That struck me a little. Was that really the life of an adventurer? Crisis after crisis with small breaks. I frowned and huffed a little.
“Well, let’s hope not. I much prefer to see new places, bunch a monster or two to death, and generally relax.”
“Well let’s get started on the last part~. There’s still an hour or so before I have to get to work.”
She moved her head and body downwards and I reacted by nearly flinching out of the bed. She froze for a moment.
“...Are we gonna talk about whatever that was?”
“...The last time an elf gave me a blowjob, let’s just say, they didn’t stop. It was great but… intense.”
She laughed at me.
“Well, I promise to go nice and slow.”
As her lips wrapped around my cock, I relaxed in bed. God, being rich with an attractive woman, no, futa was the absolute best. I’d have to consider retiring to this cozy little town one day. It’s not even that far from where Selve and Celena are.
****
After making different room arrangements, I couldn’t bunk with Silinthia every night, I considered what to do. I had been excited to explore but for the first time… I really had nothing to do. I needed shoes, I needed a few basic supplies, I had needed to go to the church to maybe get superpowers, and now? Now, I sat down at an empty patio in a seat and just stared up at the sky.
It hadn’t truly hit me, hadn’t truly settled in me. I was unburdened, free from responsibility. I could retire right now in this town, more or less with the money I had, and be fine. Better than fine. The only thing stopping me… was my own goals.
It felt overwhelming but I smiled anyway. The sky was blue, the world was wide, and nothing was impossible. I closed my eyes and fully relaxed, feeling the wind and air brush against me. It almost tickled my tail. I got up, taking a deep, mighty breath.
My goals were basic. I wanted to travel, to sightsee, to explore. This world was so large. Along the way, I’d find that damn potion of transformation or hell, maybe I’d find an alchemist that could have it commissioned. Heading to the elven capital then, where people like that might exist, might be my best bet.
But first, I did have something to do today now that I thought about it. I needed to register as an adventurer.
I prepared myself for bullshit, feeling like my run of good luck was about to dry up into nothing. Every time, in every book I’ve ever read, it never ends well when someone goes to apply for membership at the guild.
Some quick directions from some elves sitting nearby and off I went. Honestly, walking through the town was weird. I saw the looks from humans, and a few elves too, of hate and disgust. But compared to Riary trying to melt me into a puddle it seemed… cute? Quaint at least. Hate me all you’d like random strangers, your country was invaded and torn apart by my race, I get it. I’ll settle for you not attacking me.
The Adventurer’s guild soon loomed into my vision. It was constructed in the same odd way as the rest of the town but it was certainly, well, large. It was a whole building. It looked like the size of a high school but with four stories. I just gaped at it for a moment. Why on earth do you need a building so big huh?! Don’t adventurers just come, do quests, and leave?!
I walked in and the lobby was full. Full and diverse. I’d seen mostly humans and elves, but now I saw a few more dwarves. There was a clear lobby with lines to different tellers. But before that it seemed, like, well a proper ‘Guild’. I had expected just lines and a quest board, but the lobby was large. It looked like a tavern or inn, and to the side I did see a small food and bar area, but mostly there were just few around a dozen tables and chairs. There were Adventurers sitting there, taking in a small meal with a drink of some sort. Others were clearly just relaxing in more comfortable seating. People were talking or relaxing and I saw a few signs hanging over hallways, indicating a training yard and a monster drop off point. I hadn’t seen anyone carrying around a corpse in the town or otherwise, but I suppose the guild did have other entrances. There was a second floor balcony, with more seats and more people.
I headed over to the teller, getting a lot of unpleasant looks. These were rough people, use to murder and bloodshed of a sort at least, and most of them seemed to be humans. I made it all the way to the receptionist before I saw someone heading towards me. I knew my good luck wouldn’t hold for long.
He was a large guy, axe on his back, burly, full beard. He looked like a wild mountain man coming to pick a fight. At least I assumed that angry look on his face said it all. I was calm and that sensation caught me by surprise. Not that I was calm, my power told me he wasn’t a threat. No, it was that I had begun to rely on it so much that caught me by surprise. We weren’t a threat to Vanessa and still killed her. Even if my power might have sent some different signals only near the end, that didn’t change that it was more of a ‘power gauge’ than a ‘danger sense’ and I had better remember that or I was going to be killed.
My stance and expression didn’t change but my attitude sure did. I went from being uncaring to cautious. The man walked right up to me and I caught the receptionist and a few others giving him warning looks.
“What do you think you’re doing here, Demon?”
He practically spat the last word.
“I intend to become an Adventurer.”
That only seemed to enrage him and a few others. Before he could say anything though, I felt a presence. A presence stronger than me. Again, I was caught by surprise, not by that but by the fact I hadn’t realized I was the strongest in the room. My power, it was fine to be use to it, but seriously, I was just ignoring the fact that I was stronger than everyone else here? Hardened, battle made, adventurers? I should have noticed that immediately! The demon race… was truly unfair wasn’t it?
I turned around towards the powerful presence, keeping the angry man in my line of sight. He wasn’t just somewhat more powerful than me, I felt him approaching The Heroes level of power. A ‘high’ C-rank individual then.
Looking at him, I realized immediately that this was probably the Guild Leader. Elf, with a white beard and long hair. Thin but muscular. Despite his white beard and hair, he only looked middle age at most. He wore an interesting form of robe I hadn’t seen before. Maybe I should call it a Tunic? It was all one piece and went below his legs, but it was tight on his body. I could see the impression his arms and I was fairly sure he had abs. He carried a Glaive with him, a weapon I hadn’t seen anyone else wield so far.
He looked at the angry man next to me.
“Enough Ryan.”
“But!”
“Enough.”
His word carried more weight to it, a natural commanding tone that had me feeling like I should stand up straight. The man behind me fumed for a second, before nodding and walking off. The Guild Leader looked at me and walked a few steps closer. All eyes were on us.
“We don’t get too many demons in our town. I’m Viciknia.”
He offered me a handshake with his off hand, one I took.
“Derek.”
As we shook, he stared into my eyes. I was glad he wasn’t pulling the classic ‘Squeeze hand’ thing at least.
“Hmm. Well, you’ll get the basic spiel in a moment. I only have one question. What made you decide to be an Adventurer? Money, bloodlust?”
He said that in such a casual tone, I couldn’t tell whether he was being judgemental or not. Either way, I shrugged.
“Exploration I suppose. See the sights, do a few things while I’m there, that sort of thing.”
“I see, I see.” He said, while stroking his beard. “No need to be an Adventurer for that though, no?”
Hmm, well I suppose not but he’s not entirely right either.
“It would be less interesting.”
Who knows what quests I’d end up on or things I’d end up doing? A simple task to go clear a cave of monsters might let me stumble onto ancient ruins or a dungeon or something. This world, it wasn’t better than the modern while. It was, substantially worse. But that just meant I needed to focus on the positives even more. Magic, futanari apparently, the ability for me to change my body, and exploration. I wanted to go on crazy adventures! Just not ones that risked me dying. I had had enough of that.
The man in front of me finally shrugged and waved as he walked off. I waved back and then I stood in line. Stood in line, while I kept receiving glares that could kill. Which was… still cute. That was probably a weird way to feel about hate but it is what it is.
Finally, it was my turn and… honestly the process was simple.
But the Guild Leader had been right about the Spiel.
“You’re starting as a D-rank combatant. You’ll only be able to take up to D-Rank missions and…”
Utterly. Boring. The nice receptionist explained it all but good lord, I thought I was going to fall asleep on my feet. Finally, something interesting happened.
“What’s your designation?”
“Come again?”
“Your designation, what role you’d primarily take up in a party. We have different types available. Mage, Priest, Healer, Warrior, Alchemist, Strategist, etc. It’s important for finding different groups and for our records.”
I hadn’t known something like that was available. Tyler probably was a straight up ‘Tank’ or whatever they called them here. I thought about what I was. A man that doesn’t know how to use a sword, doesn’t know how to fight, and got by on pure luck, enhanced strength from my body, and my brain. My main method of fighting had been ‘Rip it apart with my claws and tail’.
“Fist fighter?”
Sure, I could have gone with swordsman and maybe I’d update it to that… the second I knew how to use a sword.
The receptionist, ‘Cherry’ strangely, simply nodded and added a little fist imprint to my badge. The badge was interesting. Dull grey and long like a headband. Clearly meant to be worn slightly under the neck. I was probably going to just stuff it in my bag.
I grabbed it, thanked the woman, and left.
…and that was it. I was shocked and surprised. I had expected something more to happen. But besides one angry man and a talk with the guild leader, that had been it. I moved quickly though, worried about being jumping me in broad daylight. I didn’t head directly back to my inn, that very worry preventing me from doing so.
When you had nothing to do, could just relax, the days seemed so much longer. It wasn’t even properly lunch time yet.
I sighed in appreciation and I wasn’t the only one. Elves, all around me, like plants were just relaxing. I felt stupid really. I remember my thoughts about how the long age of Elves meant they shouldn’t be working and now, here wasn’t I the buffoon? Most of them simply didn’t, unless they wanted more.
And so, I talked. I relaxed. I talked to different Elves sharing stories, sharing lives, sharing food or drinks. Strangers, till they weren’t. Boring, till they got interested. Even if none of the people I talked to worked, that didn’t mean they did nothing. In fact, the opposite was true. Almost all of them had a hobby of some sort. Painting, writing, reading, one man even made wooden jewelry. That was when I finally learned that plant shaping was one of the benefits of being part of the Elven Church. That, with that particular God, summoning physical light that would last. Because Gods were weird. Truth Goddess? Truth and here’s the power to heal. God of money? Fortune finding and also shields. God of plants? Wood growing, oh but also, here’s the ability to make floating balls of light.
Why? Who knows. Not me, nor anyone I had talked to could answer that question. Gods were just amusing that way.
The stress from my journey was fully seeping away but honestly? I was getting restless. I wanted to do something. I might honestly leave sooner than expected.
Which, because the world hates me, was the moment I heard a scream. I ran towards it, already fiddling with my sword. I had gotten good at pulling it off my back but I hadn’t sparred with Tyler since we’d come here. It wasn’t like he was a master trainer either. I’d have to rely on basic ‘swish swish stab’ and my tail.
I turned a corner and saw something horrifying in the setting sun. It was a body. But if that was all, I wouldn’t feel sick. The body was… maimed. But maimed with intent. There were lines all around it, made of blood. The body itself… it had tears going through it, in a pattern.
A crowd was forming, as the body was in the middle of the street. The guards had already arrived, including one with a different wooden symbol on the front. A guard captain, probably. I blinked when I noticed three other people I hadn’t expected.
Tyler, Riary, and Konohora.
I was considering what the hell to do, when the Guard Captain spoke up.
“Second one this month…” He sighed, then turned to address the crowd.
“We’re dealing with Cultists.”
What?
