Some time later, Kevin reached his destination and paused, staring at it for a few moments.
The house in front of him was… modest.
A single-story structure with faded beige walls and a slightly slanted roof that had clearly seen better days. The paint had chipped in several places, exposing the rough concrete beneath, while the edges of the building were lined with creeping vines that had long since been left unattended.
The front yard was small, just enough space for a narrow walkway leading up to the door. The grass had grown uneven, patches of green mixed with dry, brittle strands that crunched faintly underfoot. Off to one side stood a rusted mailbox, its lid slightly ajar as if it had given up on ever being properly closed.
The windows were intact, though the curtains behind them were drawn tight, giving the house a quiet, almost withdrawn presence. It wasn't abandoned, just… neglected.
Kevin stared at it in silence.
I'm back.
It wasn't impressive. Certainly, it wasn't the kind of place that reflected someone who had just been labeled a Slayer. If anything, it stood in complete contrast to that title.
But that didn't matter.
What mattered was that it was his. By some stroke of luck, he had managed to buy it for cheap, securing a place he could call his own.
Lingering outside a moment longer, Kevin found himself drifting through a handful of bittersweet memories before shaking his head and pushing them aside.
With a quiet click, he unlocked the door and stepped inside.
The interior of the home was tasteful and spacious... and a little bit empty.
The space contained a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a guest bedroom. Resting on the couch was his succubus companion, Sera, who had worn one of his oversized shirts, the fabric slipping lazily off one shoulder. Her legs were stretched out across the cushions, one arm draped over her eyes as if the act of existing required too much effort.
A half-empty snack wrapper lay crumpled on the table beside her, while another dangled loosely from her fingers, as though she had fallen asleep midway through opening it.
"You're back."
"Sorry. I was a bit late. How was things on your end?"
"Boring~ It's so boring that I could almost die, and a certain Master of my own don't like me walking outside so I wonder what I should do~"
"Stop overexaggerating. You know the reason for that."
"What about you? Did something happen?"
Kevin hesitated, then let out a small sigh as he stepped further inside. "You could say that."
"Oh."
He dropped his bag by the side and ran a hand through his hair.
"I got my rank."
"…And?"
"It's Slayer."
"Huh? Hold on... how did that happen? Is it a rank that humans give out left and right?"
Kevin gave a helpless shrug. "Apparently knocking out the examiner counts as passing with… extra credit."
"You did what?"
"Accidentally," he added quickly.
Sera held his gaze for a few seconds longer before leaning back into the couch.
"Well, that certainly explains the state of your mana. You used that technique, didn't you?"
"…Yeah."
"Of course you did."
A brief pause followed before her lips curled into a faint, amused smile. "Still, I suppose it's not a bad result. It just means you've gotten much stronger. As expected of Master."
"Please don't tease me. I really can't handle it right now."
"Hmph." She clicked her tongue lightly. "In any case, you won't have to chop wood for a while."
"It's a good training method."
"A limited one. And inefficient at your current level. Besides, we should be able to move forward with the plan now. You still need to get used to actual combat."
"I know."
Compared to the average Hunter, Kevin possessed subpar mana control and considerable output in both his physical abilities and soul power. More importantly, however, he had access to something most could neither perceive nor replicate: the ability to draw in and synchronize with ambient mana.
Little Universe.
It was an incomplete technique in his hands but even in that flawed state, it allowed him to bridge the gap between levels that should have been unreachable.
He was undoubtedly talented, but what he lacked most was experience.
Two months had passed since his transmigration into the New World, and he had spent that time chopping wood while practicing his ability. Given the circumstances, it had been a reasonable method of training but it was no longer enough, especially for players trapped in a death game.
Other transmigrators had probably begun sharpening their skills in ways that went beyond basic survival. Some had sought out mentors, others had experimented with forbidden techniques, and a few had even managed to carve out small reputations in local towns.
Compared to them, Kevin's progress felt slow, almost painfully so.
He knew he couldn't afford to fall behind or else they were going to be swallowed whole by other players.
"What are you thinking about so seriously? Are you trying to cause an explosion?"
"There's a lot to think about now, so it can't be helped."
"What's the point of overthinking? It's not like other players will immediately take action. They are probably trying to learn more about their surroundings. I think it would take about a few months before the game starts for real."
"I thought about it and reached that conclusion too. No matter how you look at it, a blood bath is inevitable."
"So much for a carefree life of indulgence. Ughh. Such misfortune."
Perhaps contemplating the situation on a broader scale had pushed Sera into a deeper sulk. Clearly, this wasn't the life she had envisioned for herself. She seemed like the type who thrived on freedom and mischief, not on waiting around for a deadly game to begin.
If not for Deathmatch, she would have already enthralled a bunch of hopeless males and
Kevin studied her for a moment, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"You really aren't cut out for patience, are you?"
Sera huffed, sitting up slightly and crossing her arms. "Patience is boring. Waiting is boring. Everything about this situation is boring and annoying. Ugh, why can't things just be fun?"
"Because it's a death game. Fun isn't exactly on the menu."
She pouted dramatically. "You really know how to kill the mood, Master."
"Someone has to. Besides, we've got time. Let's use it wisely."
"Fine, fine. But if I'm going to endure all this boredom, you better make it interesting somehow." Sera paused then smiled as a predatory glee flashed in her eyes. "Speaking of interesting, I think it's time for that."
"Time for what now?"
"Don't act like you don't know. It's time to 'feed' your Summon."
"By feed you mean..."
Kevin trembed upon hearing the word "feed."
Honestly, she didn't need to explain. He already knew she meant and wanted from him.
Summons were unlike ordinary living beings. In fact, they could be defined as entities of power that drew their strength and vitality from their masters. Unlike pets, they were not mindless or bound purely by instinct. They were conscious, aware, and capable of independent thought, yet their essence was intertwined with the one who nourished them.
This meant they did not age, nor did they require physical sustenance, and if they did consume food, it was more for pleasure than necessity.
Their true nourishment came from the energy; mana, life force, or whatever essence their master provided. Without it, they could linger for a time, but their power, vitality, and presence would gradually diminish, leaving them vulnerable and weakened.
For this reason, Kevin had to feed her his energy from time to time.
Under normal circumstances, initiating a mana transfer was simple, a touch on the shoulder or back would suffice. But Sera was a succubus, and a particularly greedy and demanding one at that. Naturally, the method of mana transfer had to match her nature.
The problem, of course, was that this method left him thoroughly drained. That was why he always reluctant when it came to mana transfer.
But what could he do?
Kevin let out a sigh as he thought to himself, Can this really be called misfortune? Then, with a resigned shake of his head, he began to undo his pants.