Chapter 1: You're a Forest Warden, Why Are You Raising a Succubus?

In the Aethelorn Kingdom, the Windwall Forest on the frontier.

Rod stood before a great tree, carefully examining the condition of its bark.

Beside him, a brown horse lowered its head to nibble at something on the ground, occasionally shaking its head and letting out a low whinny.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed him, while a gentle breeze carried the fresh scent of earth and trees.

He took out a medicinal solution and applied it to the wrinkled, diseased bark.

"It's almost healed."

Rod sighed in relief and wiped the medicine off on his trousers.

If this notorious tree disease were to spread, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Fortunately, he discovered it before the city hall inspectors arrived.

"Master~ aren't you going back yet~"

Though no one was beside him, a seductive, mature female voice drifted to his ears.

Rod didn't turn around; he glanced at the sky.

Seeing it was late, he swung himself onto the horse, deciding to end his patrol of this windbreak forest for the day.

"Let's go back."

"Yay~"

Just as Rod was about to pull the reins, a soft, boneless, dark-blue body squeezed into his arms.

She rubbed against Rod's chest twice, as if trying to squeeze all the air between them away.

Her tail, tipped with a heart shape, coiled tightly around his waist.

Rod raised an eyebrow.

"What did I say before, Tally?"

Tally tilted her head back; the horn on her forehead slid across Rod's neck, and her delicate nose nudged him like a cat's.

"What did I say~"

"You're not allowed to come out of my shadow when others are around."

"But there's no one else here~"

This was deep in the forest; at this hour, besides Rod, the forest warden, there was absolutely no one else.

Rod slapped away Tally's wandering hand.

"Even if no one is around, you're not allowed to be naked."

The dark-skinned succubus kept blowing aphrodisiac scents at Rod's face, her naked, voluptuous body rubbing against him again and again.

"I'm hungry; I can't conjure up clothes~"

Succubi are naturally masters of transmutation; clothing is no problem for them, and its main function is to seduce men of different preferences and races.

"I already fed you this morning."

"Not enough, far from enough; I want you to pamper me just like the day we first met~"

After spending time together, Rod had come to know the other's pushy personality.

Too lazy to argue, he directly activated the power of the 【Nu Yi Zhou】.

A special pattern below Tally's navel glowed pink.

"Aah!"

She let out a startled cry, then gave Rod a resentful look before her internal mana forcibly activated a shadow spell, causing her to zip straight into Rod's shadow.

Rod exhaled a murky breath, calming the heat in his heart.

As everyone knows, a succubus's food is a man's... you know what.

Rod's body was strong, barely enough to satisfy her, but he was ultimately mortal; in the long run, he would only end up as a dried husk.

"I shouldn't have gone out during that thunderstorm back then."

He looked wordlessly at the panel before him.

【Nu Yi Zhou】

【Note: Usable only on females, and takes effect only when the target is in a weakened or submissive state】

【Number of Slaves: 1】

【Slave Target 1: Tally Lilith】

【Race: Succubus】

【Age: 100】

【Obedience: 49】

【Evaluation: Trivia: Newly born succubi stay in their eggs for 100 years to learn their mother's XX experiences and spells. Do you really not know what it means for a succubus to be only 100 years old?】

Rod remembered clearly.

That night, he had gone out in the thunderstorm to buy things, scrolling on his phone, when a bolt of lightning struck.

The next second, he had transmigrated.

Becoming a forest warden in a kingdom's frontier forest.

The panel for this Nu Yi Zhou also appeared in his vision at the same time.

At the time, he was numb.

But he calmed down quickly.

From the previous owner's memories, he knew this world contained various races, including spells capable of reading memories.

A forest warden lived in seclusion, making the chance of being exposed as a soul-swap even smaller.

Plus, Rod himself naturally preferred quietness, so he soon accepted the situation calmly.

Just as he was lamenting that his golden finger was of no use for the moment, a week later that very evening, he unexpectedly ran into Tally's ambush.

To survive, Rod had no choice but to go all out with everything he had.

It was an absolute cataclysm.

Fortunately, his physical constitution was formidable, and combined with the formidable will of two lifetimes' worth of souls, he forcibly beat Tally into a state of submission, and the Nu Yi Zhou took effect as a result.

But because of that, he often ended up living days when his "ammunition depot" was empty.

The ranger's cabin.

Rod pulled Tally out from his shadow and tossed her into the kitchen to make dinner.

The succubus's cooking was actually not bad — as long as normal ingredients were used, she could make delicious food.

At first, Tally would often add her own bodily fluids into the food.

A succubus's bodily fluids have an aphrodisiac effect.

So Rod fell into the trap a few times. Later, sensing something was off, he issued an outright ban, and only then did the farce come to an end.

Listening to the clatter of pots and bowls from inside the kitchen.

Outside the cabin, Rod practiced his swordsmanship in coordination with a breathing technique.

He naturally knew a bit of martial skill — otherwise he wouldn't have been able to live alone in a forest like this.

"Rod!"

A girl brimming with youthful energy came running out from Lin Zi.

The two guards in the distance hesitated, but still did not step forward, and even sensibly turned their backs.

As she drew closer, a flash of shyness crossed the girl's face, but after tidying her makeup, her expression turned haughty once more.

"Young Lady Daphne."

Rod set down his steel sword.

This was the daughter of the holder of Shi Ying town beside the forest — in other words, the lord's daughter of this region.

Rod had seen her a few times when he went to Shi Ying town hall to collect his salary.

But ever since that time when he led this lost Young Lady back home, she would show up in his field of vision every now and then.

"I'm not here for anything in particular — just happened to be passing by."

Daphne said, while secretly peeking into the wooden cabin.

Passing by, in the middle of the forest?

"It's getting late, Young Lady Daphne. The forest isn't as safe as the town — it would be best to head back soon."

Daphne pouted at his words.

"There's always boring gossip in the town — I just don't like staying there."

"Gossip? About what?"

"Little Tommy said you keep a succubus in the woods." Daphne snorted with a laugh. "Truly baseless rumor — a mere forest ranger like you can barely feed yourself, so what's the point of keeping a succubus?"

As she spoke, her gaze kept drifting toward the cabin, and she still looked a little nervous.

Rod sighed inwardly.

Knew he couldn't keep it hidden.

Little Tommy — seemed to be a hunter in town; Rod had run into him a few times in the woods before.

Also, unlike other demon-type creatures, humans' tolerance toward succubi was relatively much higher.

This was thanks to the Wang Zu nobility, whose lust was utterly brazen — they would even actively seek out and collect succubi.

Therefore, the town's constable did not send anyone to investigate.

"Thanks for the concern — there really is a succubus at home."

Rod couldn't be bothered to conceal it.

"Who cares about you!"

Seeing his utterly indifferent, frank expression, Daphne thought he was just teasing her, and a stone immediately dropped in her heart.

Phew~ — frankness is good. Frankness means the matter isn't true.

I still have a chance!

"Alright, alright, I get it!"

Daphne became cheerful and lively, thrilled at having debunked the rumor for herself.

She pinched her dainty little nose and fanned the air in front of her.

"Look at you — covered in stinky sweat. Besides me, who else would be willing to stand beside you?"

Having said that, she gathered her courage, her heart pounding.

She picked up a handkerchief, intending to wipe the sweat from Rod's forehead.

Clang—

From inside the wooden cabin came the sound of a pot dropping onto the floor.

Daphne's hand and smile froze at the same time.

"Master~ look how clumsy I am~"

The cabin door was pushed open.

A bewitching woman with dark blue skin, demon curved horns, and a heart-shaped tail walked out.

She wore only a maid's apron on her body — nothing else — and as she moved, two large mounds surged in waves behind the apron.

Tally lightly leapt up and clung to Rod's shoulder.

"Oh Master, is there a guest tonight?"

As if only just noticing Daphne now, her bewitching crimson eyes glanced at her with a provocative look.

Rod shook his head.

"No."

He looked at Daphne, who stood dumb as a wooden chicken:

"Sorry to scare you. There really is a succubus at my home."

(End of chapter)