Chapter 1: You

The Kingdom of Aetheron, on the remote edge of the Windwall Forest.

Luo De stood before the tree, carefully examining the condition of its bark.

Beside him, a brown horse lowered its head to nibble at the ground, occasionally tossing its head and lowing.

The last rays of the sunset warmed his body; a gentle breeze carried the scent of soil and trees.

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

“It’s nearly healed.”

Luo De exhaled in relief and wiped the liquid off on his pants.

If this infamous tree disease spread, the consequences would be unthinkable.

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

“Master~ Aren’t you coming home yet~”

Though no one was beside him, a sultry, mature female voice reached his ear.

Luo De didn’t turn around, glancing at the sky.

Seeing it was getting late, he mounted his horse and decided to end today’s patrol of this windbreak forest.

“Let’s go.”

“Yay~”

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

She rubbed against his chest twice, as if trying to squeeze out all the air between them.

Her heart-shaped tail curled tightly around his waist.

Luo De raised an eyebrow.

“What did I tell you, Tally?”

Tally tilted her head back, her horn brushing against Luo De’s neck, her delicate nose nudging him like a cat.

“What did you say~”

“You’re not allowed to emerge from my shadow outside.”

“But there’s no one here~”

This was the deep forest; at this hour, besides Luo De, the forest warden, no one else was around.

Luo De slapped away Tally’s unsteady hands.

“Even if no one’s here, you’re not allowed to be naked.”

The dark-skinned succubus continuously exhaled pheromones toward Luo De’s face, rubbing her bare, voluptuous body against him again and again.

“I’m hungry—I can’t summon clothes~”

Succubi are naturally masters of transformation; clothing is no challenge—their primary purpose is to seduce men of all preferences and races.

“I already fed you this morning.”

“Not enough—not nearly enough. I want you to treat me like you did the day we first met~”

After spending this time together, Luo De had learned her tendency to push boundaries.

He was too lazy to waste words with her and directly activated the power of the [Slave Spell].

A pink glow emanated from the special glyph beneath Tally’s navel.

“Ah!”

She cried out, then gave Luo De a resentful glance as her magic forcibly triggered a shadow spell, whisking her instantly into his shadow.

Luo De exhaled a long breath, calming the heat in his chest.

As everyone knows, succubi feed on men’s semen.

Luo De’s body is strong enough to barely satisfy her, but he’s still human—over time, he’d only end up as a dried-out husk.

“I shouldn’t have gone out that night during the thunderstorm.”

He stared blankly at the panel before him.

[Slave Spell]

[Note: Only usable on females, and only effective when the target is weakened or submissive]

[Number of Slaves: 1]

[Slave 1: Tally Lilith]

[Race: Succubus]

[Age: 100]

[Compliance: 49]

[Evaluation: Fun fact: Newborn succubi spend 100 years inside their eggs learning their mother’s XX experiences and spells. Do you really not know what a 100-year-old succubus means?]

Luo De remembered clearly.

That night, he’d braved a thunderstorm to go out shopping, scrolling on his phone, when a lightning bolt struck.

The next moment, he was transported.

He became a forest warden on the kingdom’s remote frontier.

The [Slave Spell] panel appeared in his vision at the same time.

He’d been numb then.

But he quickly calmed down.

From the original body’s memories, he learned this world had many races, including those capable of reading memories.

As a forest warden living in isolation, the chance of being exposed as an impostor was minimal.

Moreover, Luo De himself preferred solitude; he soon accepted it without resistance.

Just as he lamented that his golden finger couldn’t be used yet, a week later, he was attacked by Tally.

To survive, Luo De had to use every trick he had to overpower her.

It was a storm of thunder and fire.

Fortunately, his physical strength was immense, and with the strong will of two souls, he forced Tally into submission—the [Slave Spell] activated.

But now he often lived with an empty ammunition depot.

Forest warden’s cabin.

Luo De pulled Tally out of his shadow and tossed her into the kitchen to make dinner.

Succubi are decent cooks—they can make delicious meals using ordinary ingredients.

At first, Tally often added bodily fluids to the food.

Succubi fluids have aphrodisiac effects.

Luo De fell into the trap several times; only after he explicitly forbade it did the chaos end.

Listening to the clatter of pots and pans in the kitchen,

outside, Luo De practiced sword techniques in sync with his breathing method.

Of course he knew some martial skills—he wouldn’t survive alone in a forest like this otherwise.

“Luo De!”

A youthful girl ran toward him from the woods.

Two guards in the distance hesitated, then didn’t approach—instead, they respectfully turned their backs.

As she drew closer, a flicker of shyness crossed her face, but after adjusting her expression, she resumed an arrogant demeanor.

“Miss Daphne.”

Luo De set down his steel sword.

She was the daughter of the owner of Shiying Town, beside the forest—the regional lord’s daughter.

Luo De had seen her a few times when collecting his salary at Shiying Town’s city hall.

But ever since he escorted her back after she got lost, she’d been appearing in his sight more and more often.

“I’m not here for anything in particular—just passing by.”

Daphne said, sneaking glances toward the cabin.

Passing by in the forest?

“It’s getting late, Miss Daphne. The forest isn’t as safe as the town—better return soon.”

Daphne pouted.

“There’s always boring gossip in town—I hate staying there.”

“Gossip? What gossip?”

“Little Tang Mu says you keep a succubus in the forest.” Daphne snorted. “What a baseless rumor—you’re just a forest warden, barely able to feed yourself, so why keep a succubus?”

Still, her eyes kept drifting toward the cabin, looking slightly tense.

Luo De sighed inwardly.

Knew it wouldn’t stay hidden.

Little Tang Mu—wasn’t he the hunter from town? Luo De had met him a few times in the woods.

Also, unlike other demonic creatures, humans tolerate succubi far more.

This was thanks to the brazen royal nobles who actively sought out succubi.

Thus, the town’s constables hadn’t sent anyone to investigate.

“Thank you for your concern—I do indeed have a succubus at home.”

Luo De didn’t bother hiding it anymore.

“Who cares about you!”

Daphne saw his utterly indifferent expression and assumed he was teasing her; instantly, a heavy stone lifted from her heart.

Phew~ It’s good he’s calm—it means it’s not true.

I still have a chance!

“Alright, I get it!”

Daphne grew cheerful and bouncy, thrilled to have cleared up the rumor.

She pinched her tiny nose and fanned the air before her.

“Look at you, stinking of sweat—who else would stand beside you but me?”

Saying this, she gathered her courage, her heart pounding.

She reached for a towel to wipe the sweat from Luo De’s forehead.

Clang—

Inside the wooden hut, a pot clattered to the floor.

Daphne’s hand and smile froze simultaneously.

“Master~ Look how clumsy I am~”

The wooden door opened.

A sultry woman with demonic curved horns and a heart-shaped tail, her skin a dark blue, stepped out.

She wore only a maid’s apron—nothing else—and with each step, two large masses swayed beneath it like crashing waves.

Tally leapt lightly and clung to Luo De’s shoulder.

“Oh Master, do we have guests tonight?”

As if noticing Daphne for the first time, her alluring crimson eyes flicked toward her with defiance.

Luo De shook his head.

“No.”

He looked at Daphne, frozen like a statue:

“I’m sorry I startled you—I do have a succubus at home.”

(End of Chapter)