Dusk was settling over the land.
In front of the entrance to an abandoned basement, Xue Zhao fumbled along the wall until his fingers found a switch. He pressed it with some effort.
The light bulb hanging overhead flickered several times before finally sputtering to life, casting a weak, trembling glow.
The moment his gaze landed on the room beyond, his face turned pale.
A nauseating stench hung heavily in the air.
The wallpaper had peeled away in large patches, leaving the walls mottled and stained. Vast stretches of dried blood had blackened the floor, while scattered objects were piled in the corners, broken pieces of wood, scraps of animal hide and other unidentifiable debris.
Under the dim yellow light, several gray lumps about the size of a human palm were startled by his arrival. They twisted around and screeched at him.
[System] : Demonic creatures. Small in size. They tend to gather in areas where demonic energy is dense. Individually, their combat ability is low, but they usually move in groups.
[System] : They won’t attack you. Don’t worry.
The gray creatures were grotesque in appearance. Their bodies seemed to be wrapped in layers of gray flame, with glowing red eyes peering from within.
As expected, they stared fixedly at Xue Zhao but did not dare approach. Instead, they slowly retreated into the darkness and disappeared from sight.
[System] : According to the setting, this is where you live and hide.
[System] : Are you ready?
For a moment, Xue Zhao didn’t answer.
His breathing trembled slightly.
[System] : Scared? If you can’t even complete the first mission,
Lowering his head, Xue Zhao’s eyelashes quivered.
“I’m not scared…” he whispered softly. “What should I do?”
He asked the system in his mind.
Several new notifications immediately popped up in the lower-right corner of the translucent panel before him.
[System] : Your first mission is to complete the ritual altar and release demonic energy to attract the target.
[System] : You’re too weak. Under normal circumstances, it’s impossible for you to finish within the mission time limit.
[System] : However, there’s a basic item you can use.
Summoning his courage, Xue Zhao covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve and carefully took a step forward.
Just ten minutes earlier…
[System] : You come from the Eternal Inferno. You come from the Cursed Void. You are the embodiment of death and fear, a powerful high-ranking demon entrusted with a sacred mission,
[System] : Wait a second. Why are your stats wrong??
“Demon…?”
Sitting on the grass, Xue Zhao stared blankly at the semi-transparent panel floating before him.
“But it says here…” he said hesitantly, “…Succubus.”
[Name]: Xue Zhao
[Original Species]: Sensitive Plant
He had accepted a new assignment and, together with the system assistant assigned to him, had just been transported into this unfamiliar world.
[System] : This is bad.
As a newcomer undertaking interdimensional missions for the very first time, Xue Zhao had no idea what had happened.
Still, even he knew that a demon and a succubus were definitely not the same thing.
The dizziness from the dimensional transfer had yet to fade.
Raising a hand to support his head, he suddenly let out a tiny cry of surprise.
“Huh?”
He had horns.
Actual horns.
A picture automatically appeared on the panel, displaying his current form.
Silver hair.
Red eyes.
And a pair of horns that symbolized the demon race.
Apart from that, his appearance remained unchanged. He still looked like the human form he had taken after gaining sentience.
The newly appeared horns felt strange.
Xue Zhao carefully touched them twice before reaching behind himself and patting his lower back through his clothes.
A faint wrinkle appeared between his brows.
His expression was utterly bewildered.
After barely adjusting to his new body, he looked around once more and realized he was standing in an unfamiliar forest.
Nearby stood a dilapidated wooden cabin that looked as though it might collapse at any moment.
It was around seven o’clock in the evening.
The forest was shrouded in a veil of gathering darkness, giving off an eerie and unsettling atmosphere.
In the corner of the panel, the conversation window with the system still displayed the words:
“This is bad.”
Xue Zhao recalled the grand introduction it had given moments earlier.
“Eternal Inferno.”
“Death.”
“Fear.”
Just then, another notification appeared across the top of the screen.
[You have entered the world, Horror Manga: Exorcism]
The moment he saw the word “Horror,” Xue Zhao’s eyes widened slightly.
As if on cue, a chilly wind swept through the trees.
The forest let out a mournful howl.
“Woooo…”
Still sitting on the ground, Xue Zhao instinctively scooted backward and hugged his knees tightly.
The system remained silent for a long moment before finally speaking again.
[System] : It’s probably a problem with the database. Your mission identity was assigned incorrectly.
[System] : But the transfer has already been completed. The mission can’t be terminated.
“What does that mean…?” Xue Zhao asked cautiously.
“Does that mean the mission can’t be completed?”
[System] : Well, it can still be completed.
[System] : The problem is that the difficulty is extremely high now. You’re too weak. Your combat power is only 50.
Xue Zhao hesitated.
“Is… 50 very low?”
[System] : Very low.
[System] : According to the original setup, your identity should have been a Greater Demon. Your combat power should be at least 50,000.
Xue Zhao stared silently at the number.
He said nothing.
[System] : But what’s done is done.
[System] : Don’t worry. I’ll do my best to assist you. Let’s aim for at least thirty percent completion!
Xue Zhao nodded gently.
“…Okay.”
[System] : The first mission is about to refresh. Time is limited, so let’s get started immediately!
Xue Zhao nodded again.
“Okay!”
He remembered reading in the Beginner’s Handbook that even if a mission failed, some rewards would still be given according to overall progress.
Following the system’s instructions, Xue Zhao entered the dilapidated cabin and located the entrance to the basement through the kitchen.
[A New Main Quest Has Been Issued!]
[Quest Details]: Construct and activate the ritual altar. Draw demonic energy into the target location.
[Quest Reward]: Villain Points +5
The system informed him that his current role in this manga world was the Great Villain.
Whether he completed or failed the mission, he would need to accumulate at least 180 Villain Points to barely pass the overall assessment.
Unfortunately, his status panel had malfunctioned.
His intended identity as a demon had somehow become that of a succubus.
Not only were their abilities completely different, but the gap in combat strength was practically heaven and earth.
At first glance, the mission seemed simple.
If Xue Zhao had truly been a Greater Demon, it would have been exactly that.
A casual wave of his hand would have been enough.
But he was merely a succubus with a combat power of 50.
To complete the ritual altar, the system’s preliminary estimate suggested it would take him at least an hour.
The mission’s allotted time, however, was only ten minutes.
Stepping carefully across the stained floor, Xue Zhao ventured deeper into the basement.
His face grew paler with every step.
Occasionally, something soft or slick brushed against the soles of his shoes.
The scent of blood became increasingly overpowering.
Unable to help himself, he asked,
“Do… do I really have to live here?”
The system had previously told him that this place would serve as his hideout.
[System] : Not necessarily.
[System] : According to the storyline, once the altar is activated, you’ll disguise yourself as a survivor and be taken back to town by the church.
The premise, of course, was that Xue Zhao’s disguise would be convincing enough and that nobody would discover his true identity.
The system offered a few more words of reassurance.
Taking a quiet breath, Xue Zhao continued forward.
Step by step, he approached the corner where the miscellaneous debris had been piled.
Suppressing the nausea rising in his stomach, Xue Zhao picked up a pair of gloves from a low cabinet nearby and carefully pulled them on.
Then he bent down and picked up a pair of scissors from the floor.
The pile stacked in the corner consisted of animal hides.
His hands trembling, Xue Zhao used the scissors to carve circular symbols into the surface of the leather.
[System]: Not bad! Perfect!
There were many pieces of hide, already cut into smaller sections beforehand. Every single one needed to be engraved before enough demonic power could be gathered.
Xue Zhao managed to finish carving two pieces in succession when a notification sounded beside his ear.
[Save Point Space Activated. Save Duration: 180 Seconds]
[System]: Good. Keep going.
This was the basic item the system had mentioned.
It could only be used when no other characters interfered. The duration was short and the space it created was small. Under normal circumstances, it was considered a rather useless item.
For Xue Zhao’s current situation, however, it was exactly what he needed.
Within the fixed save-point space, only time itself would rewind after loading.
The animal hides he had already engraved would remain untouched.
As a result, the ten-minute mission limit could effectively be stretched indefinitely until Xue Zhao had prepared every required item.
[System]: This is the only way.
[System]: Otherwise, if you can’t even complete the first mission, it’ll be even harder to receive future assignments.
The system secretly opened Xue Zhao’s inventory panel.
Inside, it was practically empty.
His balance consisted of only a single-digit amount.
Lowering his head, Xue Zhao continued carving symbols into the leather.
“…Oh,” he responded quietly.
The smell in the basement was truly unbearable.
In his hands were bloodstained animal hides.
Behind him lurked two small demonic creatures.
They had also been dragged into the save-point space and were currently staring in his direction.
Closing his eyes briefly, Xue Zhao tightened his grip on the scissors.
Inwardly, he repeated over and over:
I’m not scared.
I’m not scared.
Doing his best to steady his breathing, he spoke to the system.
“Isn’t this supposed to be a comic world?”
“Then why… why are there things like this…?”
This mission was completely different from what he had imagined when he first accepted interdimensional assignments.
[System]: This world isn’t actually that scary.
Xue Zhao looked doubtful.
“Really?”
[System]: You’re the major villain here.
[System]: Hang in there. The items are almost finished.
[System]: Don’t be afraid.
“I’m not afraid…” Xue Zhao muttered in protest.
It sounded more like he was trying to convince himself.
His true form was a sensitive plant.
By nature, he was timid.
Maybe this was a good opportunity.
A good opportunity to train himself.
Silently persuading himself, Xue Zhao picked up another piece of hide.
The system seemed worried that he might give up halfway through.
Every now and then, encouraging messages and praise would appear before him.
Gradually, Xue Zhao became almost numb to his surroundings.
Even so, his hands remained careful and serious as he carved each symbol.
He only made mistakes twice.
The system told him it wasn’t a problem.
As time passed, he found himself stopping more frequently to rest.
However, he could not leave the save-point space.
In other words, he could not leave the basement.
Finally, after nearly an hour, the amount of time the system had originally estimated, almost every piece of animal hide had been completed.
[System]: That’s enough.
[System]: Place them on the low table beside the wall.
The table itself was already covered with countless strange symbols.
Several deeply carved curved lines stretched across its surface, resembling a map.
With the system’s guidance, Xue Zhao carefully arranged the engraved hides on top.
Soon after, a notification sounded.
[Save Point Released]
The moment he heard it, he could endure no longer.
Immediately, he rushed out of the basement.
He practically collapsed onto the kitchen floor, taking small, desperate breaths of fresh air.
[System]: Good work.
[System]: Next step, find a place inside this house and hide.
Xue Zhao nodded.
Dragging his exhausted body to his feet, he slowly made his way through the darkness.
After leaving the kitchen, he entered a bedroom and discovered an empty low cabinet.
The space inside wasn’t particularly large.
Just enough for a single person.
Xue Zhao climbed inside and slowly curled himself into a small ball.
[System]: One final step remains.
[Current Form Conversion In Progress]
[Converting To: Human]
The notification sounded.
Xue Zhao let out a muffled groan and curled up even tighter.
His entire body trembled.
The horns atop his head disappeared.
His silver hair gradually darkened until it became pure black.
At the same time, something detached completely from his lower back.
It slid rapidly along his spine and arm before eventually wrapping itself around his wrist.
Curious, Xue Zhao reached out and touched it.
Strangely, he didn’t dislike the feeling.
[System]: That’s your tail.
[System]: Hide it properly.
[System]: After transforming into a human, your strength will be suppressed.
[System]: You’ll become even weaker.
[System]: Your combat power is now… um… 5.
Opening his eyes, Xue Zhao looked at the image displayed on the panel.
Black hair.
Black eyes.
A completely human appearance.
[Name]: Xue Zhao
[Original Species]: Sensitive Plant
[System]: Form conversion consumes health points.
[System]: And after becoming human, you’ll require more food as well.
[System]: Creating those ritual items earlier also consumed a great deal of energy.
[System]: Your health is in a somewhat dangerous state right now.
[System]: Still, don’t worry too much.
[System]: People from the church and the town will be drawn here very soon.
[System]: You’re a succubus and your abilities are… well… rather special.
The image of Xue Zhao’s current appearance was still displayed on the panel.
The system glanced at it several more times.
He was simply too beautiful.
Wouldn’t that make it difficult to blend into the church?
The system felt increasingly worried.
Then again, since he was a succubus, his appearance itself could be considered one of his skills.
Moreover, perhaps because Xue Zhao was so weak, after disguising himself as a human, not a trace of demonic energy remained on his body.
If he encountered any detection tools or examinations, he would likely pass without difficulty.
“Ding!”
Another notification sounded.
The ritual altar in the basement had finished activating.
The first mission was complete.
[System]: In about half an hour, people from the town should arrive.
Xue Zhao pulled the tail wrapped around his wrist farther up and concealed it within his sleeve.
Leaning his head against the cabinet wall, he closed his eyes.
At the same time, he continued reading the messages the system sent through the panel.
According to the system, this world’s difficulty level was not low.
The storyline offered very few direct prompts and players were granted a considerable amount of freedom.
The story of this horror comic began from the perspective of demons.
At some point, the aura of an important artifact, the Holy Relic, had appeared within a remote town.
Numerous demons had rushed there, all hoping to locate the relic first and earn merit.
Yet as time passed, not only did nobody find the Holy Relic, but several demons disappeared entirely.
There was a strong possibility they had already been captured.
Xue Zhao’s identity was also that of a demon searching for the Holy Relic.
To avoid unnecessary risks, he had decided to disguise himself as a human and enter the town.
His goal was to gather information and wait for an opportunity to act.
[System]: There are two important characters in the town.
[System]: One is the old priest. He’s seriously ill and bedridden, unable to move around.
[System]: The other priest is much younger and currently manages most affairs.
[System]: The church doesn’t kill innocent people indiscriminately.
[System]: As long as they determine you’re human, they’ll definitely bring you back to town and provide shelter.
The system even taught Xue Zhao how to play dumb and tell lies.
If questioned, he should simply claim that he had lost his memory and couldn’t remember anything.
After all, humans who had once been possessed by demons sometimes genuinely suffered from memory loss.
Once he arrived in town, he only needed to wait for the next mission to appear.
And during periods without missions, he could secretly do a few bad things on the side.
Those actions would also earn Villain Points.
Quietly, Xue Zhao read every message the system sent.
Occasionally, he would respond with a soft acknowledgment.
He was simply too exhausted.
The enclosed darkness inside the cabinet gave him a faint sense of security.
Without realizing it, he gradually drifted off to sleep.
He didn’t know how much time had passed.
Suddenly,
Bang!
A loud noise erupted outside the house.
Xue Zhao instantly woke up.
His eyes snapped open in the darkness.
[System]: They’re here.
Chaotic footsteps approached from afar.
There were at least twenty people, perhaps even more.
Their voices accompanied them as they poured into the wooden cabin, turning the previously silent surroundings noisy and crowded.
Xue Zhao grew tense.
Curling into himself, he tightly gripped his sleeve.
[System]: Don’t be afraid.
[System]: Your disguise is perfect.
The footsteps spread throughout the house.
Soon, Xue Zhao heard someone discover the basement entrance in the kitchen.
Some time later, a faint beam of light appeared through the gap in the cabinet door.
“There’s something here?”
Xue Zhao held his breath.
The light grew brighter and brighter.
Several people hurried closer.
Then the cabinet doors were yanked open.
Five or six people stood inside the bedroom.
Flashlight beams poured into the cabinet.
Every one of them saw the frightened young man huddled inside.
For one second, the air fell silent.
Then someone shouted in shock:
“H-he’s still alive!”
[Character Favorability Has Changed]
[Character Favorability Has Changed]
…
Several notifications appeared on the panel.
The system explained:
“Favorability is related to your abilities.”
“But you’ll need to complete three missions before you can view the exact values.”
Even if favorability changed, it wasn’t necessarily positive.
It could just as easily have decreased.
The person standing nearest to the cabinet instinctively stepped back half a pace.
After a moment’s hesitation, he asked,
“You… who are you?”
“How did you end up here?”
Xue Zhao didn’t answer.
Instead, he turned his head away from the flashlight beam and curled himself up even tighter.
His body trembled continuously.
The system thought to itself that his acting skills were actually quite good.
Just then, a demonic creature came scrambling out from the direction of the basement.
It fled in blind panic and happened to rush directly toward the cabinet where Xue Zhao was hiding.
Someone immediately moved to intercept it.
But another shadow was even faster.
Whoosh.
A dark figure flashed forward.
“Meow!”
The demonic creature’s scream rang out at point-blank range.
Shivering, Xue Zhao turned his head to look.
A black cat stood before the open cabinet door.
Its sharp golden eyes were fixed firmly on him.
The cat wasn’t particularly large.
Yet it appeared extraordinarily fierce.
Gray demonic flames still clung to its claws, the remnants of the creature it had just killed.
It looked as though it could swipe at him at any moment.
Xue Zhao didn’t dare move.
The system was equally nervous.
[System]: That’s probably not an ordinary cat.
[System]: If it catches your scent, you’ll need to find a way to escape.
But there were so many people here.
And there was also a cat capable of killing demonic creatures.
With Xue Zhao’s strength, escaping this bedroom would be nearly impossible.
Just as the standoff continued, an older townswoman stepped forward.
She lowered the brightness of her flashlight and crouched down gently.
“Don’t be afraid,” she said warmly.
“It’s a spirit cat. It won’t hurt people.”
The black cat was nudged aside.
Even so, it continued staring fixedly at Xue Zhao.
Fortunately, it made no further moves.
Only after receiving patient reassurance from the townspeople did Xue Zhao slowly crawl out of the cabinet.
“Oh dear…”
“What a beautiful child.”
“You’ve really suffered.”
The woman helped support him and draped a coat over his shoulders.
Then she asked softly,
“Do you remember how you came here?”
Xue Zhao lowered his head and remained silent.
He looked exactly like someone who had been frightened out of his wits.
Meanwhile, the black cat circled around him.
Its nose twitched as it sniffed the air.
Then it reached out a paw and tugged lightly at his pant leg.
Xue Zhao’s entire body stiffened.
His heartbeat accelerated instantly.
At the same time, even more people entered the bedroom.
Someone was quietly explaining the situation to another person.
A survivor had been found.
He appeared quite young. No matter what questions they asked, he refused to answer. Most likely, he had lost his memory.
[Character Favorability Has Changed]
[Character Favorability Has Changed]
…
[Character Favorability Has Changed]
[System]: That’s the priest currently in charge of the church, Xiu Jixin.
Xue Zhao lifted his head and secretly glanced in that direction.
Standing at the doorway was a man dressed in a black priest’s cassock.
Surrounded by several others, he stepped into the room.
He was tall, his handsome features immediately drawing attention even among a crowd.
For a priest, he was remarkably young.
Yet the aura surrounding him was anything but weak.
His collar was fastened with meticulous precision, every detail perfectly arranged. His expression was cool and composed, carrying an innate sense of authority.
Xiu Jixin was also looking at Xue Zhao.
The moment their gazes accidentally met, Xue Zhao felt even more nervous than when the black cat had been staring at him.
It felt as though he were prey standing completely exposed beneath a hunter’s eyes.
Startled, he immediately looked away.
Lowering his head, he took half a step backward.
At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to crawl back into the cabinet and hide.
The townspeople who had been questioning him earlier continued speaking to Xiu Jixin.
They asked how Xue Zhao should be handled and whether he should be brought back to town.
A survivor appearing near a demonic ritual altar was already suspicious enough.
Adding to that, his appearance was exceptionally striking.
The situation was far from ordinary.
And yet, Xue Zhao looked timid and fragile.
He seemed pitiful enough to stir sympathy in almost anyone who looked at him.
Xiu Jixin remained silent.
He appeared to be considering the matter.
At that moment, another assistant entered from behind and delivered a report.
“The demonic energy in the basement is extremely dense.”
“The altar was completed in an incredibly short amount of time.”
“The demon responsible must possess tremendous power.”
Meanwhile, the black cat continued circling around Xue Zhao.
Gradually, confusion appeared in its eyes.
After a moment, it turned around and leapt onto the windowsill.
Stretching lazily, it opened its mouth in a yawn before lowering its head to lick its paws.
It no longer paid any attention to Xue Zhao.
Xiu Jixin observed the entire scene.
His gaze lingered on Xue Zhao’s pale cheeks.
Finally, he spoke.
“Bring him back.”
✦ ✧ ✦
Cresvynia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
(｡•̀ᴗ-)✧ you know what to do
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
Next →
ChaptersChapter 1 · [Mission Identity]: SuccubusChapter 2 · Let him copy the scriptures fifty more timesChapter 3 · Can I seduce him?Chapter 4 · Can I have a bite?Chapter 5 · I wasn’t full at allChapter 6 · This is its original formChapter 7 · Xue Zhao slowly licked it againChapter 8 · If something is discoveredChapter 9 · Because he is… a succubusChapter 10 · Are you trying to seduce me?Chapter 11 · That’s right, a cage to lock up the devilChapter 12 · Can I keep you company for a while?Chapter 13 · Only one kiss a dayChapter 14 · Uncomfortable?Chapter 15 · Day of RepentanceChapter 16 · It’s the last bit left, silver halideChapter 17 · Current Form: SuccubusChapter 18 · This is your… original form?Chapter 19 · What would you like to eat?Chapter 20 · I’ll show you my tail… okay?Chapter 21 · The premise is that he didn’t lieChapter 22 · It has a light, pleasant fragranceChapter 23 · Demons typically have a limited dietChapter 24 · Don’t touch me…Chapter 25 · MaturityChapter 26 · Touch What?Chapter 27 · I never imaginedChapter 28 · “I’ll feed you until you’re fullChapter 29 · You’d better keep having this kind of luckChapter 30 · Anyway, I’ve already touched it onceChapter 31 · Like a kitten begging for extra food.Chapter 32 · [Skill “Charm” in effect]Chapter 33 · [You have entered the “Mature Stage”]Chapter 34 · He wanted Xiu Jixin to feed him….Chapter 35 · You’re trying to seduce me againChapter 36 · He seems… even more off now.Chapter 37 · Xue Zhao blushedChapter 38 · The fallen Holy SpiritChapter 39 · [Health points have reached maximum]Chapter 40 · [Corruption Value]: 63%Chapter 41 · Besides seducing me, what else can you do?Chapter 42 · Can we take the NPC with us?Chapter 43 · Horror Comics: The Murder DollChapter 44 · [Task Details]: Find a new owner for your itemsChapter 45 · The skill “Entering Dreams”Chapter 46 · The thought of making him cryChapter 47 · With a rather wicked interest.Chapter 48 · I’ll buy you new clothes, little bunnyChapter 49 · I should say, thank you, MasterChapter 50 · Do toy bunnies go into heat?