Crossfield

[Congratulations, you are now a D-rank demon]

[Wind Magic level up! (Lv4)]

[Evolution Ready]

Hmm? Evolution? What do I evolve into?

[Your evolution will take place at midnight.]

Well, that's dumb. Might as well warn me what I'll become. Do I get horns or something?

...

The system didn't answer.

I guess I'm going to be evolving into something I have no clue of.

While we were heading towards town, we've encountered a few Iron Death Bears on our way. Defeating them got me to Level 40, which then ranked me up, and gave me this evolution message. Kind of worried about that. But anyway, who knew we could encounter Iron Death Bears in the wild, I thought they lived in caves. Since I only had one, I've decided to take them.

[Souls: (40/44)]

Oh yeah, that's right. I only have space for four more. I guess I should check my stats; I haven't checked them in a while.

---

[Info]

Name: Noctem

Level: 40

Grade: D-rank Demon

Health: 1500

Mana: 1000

[Stats]

Strength: 71

Resistance: 69

Agility: 81

Perception: 71

Aura: 44

(Available stat points: 30)

[Skills]

Fire Magic(Lv4)

Light Magic(Lv6)

Dark Magic(Lv1)

Wind Magic(Lv4)-Distortion-

Jab(Lv8)

Leap(Lv2)

Lacerate(Lv9)

[Souls (40/44)]

[Effects]

Blessed by the Light

Cursed by the Darkness

Beast Killer

Ant Exterminator

Rehab Tenacity

Impenetrable Skin

Undead Executioner

Spectral Spirit

Murderous Daunting

[Storage]

Koshiro

---

Thirty stat points, huh? Guess I've been saving up a lot. Hmm, since I'm almost full on souls, I should raise my aura stat. By... 20, I guess. Then I'll put 2 for everything.

---

[Stats]

Strength: 73

Resistance: 71

Agility: 83

Perception: 73

Aura: 66

(Available stat points: 0)

---

"Noctem, are you done yet?"

"Hmm? Almost."

[Souls: (45/66)]

I absorbed the five Iron Death Bear's souls and rejoined my companions.

***

Crossfield...

Yes, that's the name of the town.

As we entered Crossfield, we decided to find an inn to stay at. Luna and I didn't have any money, I don't even know what people use in this world as money. But luckily, Kage had some money that was enough for all of us to get 3 rooms.

Eventually, as we searched through town, we found an inn called "The Hollow Qliphoth". The building seemed to look about three stories tall.

Walking in, it was pretty busy. The first floor was a bit more spacious than I thought. There was a bar and well, it looked like a restaurant. Everyone was drinking, eating, that stuff. There were some adventurers too, guessing they were from the guild. Anyway, Kage walked up to the lady at the counter.

"Three rooms please."

"Alright, and how many nights?"

Kage turned his head towards Luna.

"How many do you have?"

"I have 10 gold coins."

"Then a month."

Kage nodded and handed the lady five gold coins. The lady smiled and took them.

"Thank you. Here is your change, five silver coins."

The lady handed Kage nine silver coins. Then she gave Kage three keys.

"Your rooms will be on the third floor. I hope you enjoy your stay."

After Kage received the keys, he placed one in Luna's hand and one in mine. Then we walked up the stairs. I had the innermost room, so it was at the end of the hallway. Kage's room was next to mine, and he said if I needed anything, all I would need to do is knock on the walls and he'll come right over. Luna's room was across from mine. Pretty convenient.

Walking into my room, it was pretty spacious. One bed and a large window. I snuck a peek outside and I could see the street. A few people were walking around, talking happily with each other.

I took my cloak and hung it on the chair, the straw hat off on the desk. I flopped onto the bed and it was so soft, so luxurious...

Anyway, I was in a good mood and I was kind of hungry. I wonder what I can order from the bar.

As I went for the door, I remembered that I had to conceal my appearance. Well, I don't like to look shady, but the lady was giving me a suspicious look. But it's the only choice I have, so I guess I'll have to do it.

As I walked out of my room, Kage also walked out of his room as well. He turned towards me and questioned where I was going.

"I'm heading down to get some dinner. Can you give me a coin to use? I'm starving."

"I see, but just for your safety, I'll go down with you."

We walked down to the first floor. We decided to sit at the bar since all the tables were taken. The bartender was an old man with a slim build. He didn't look fragile, but he looked a bit too energetic for his age.

"What may you youngsters want?"

He said it with what sounded like a British accent. It was pretty weird at first, but it didn't really matter.

Kage leaned over to me and whispered.

"What do you want?"

He said as he nudged the menu. I nudged him back, and he tilted his head. Then he remembered that I had demon-like hands and that would expose me pretty quickly.

He read me the menu, and I wanted the "Squid-ink pasta". It's surprising how they have food from my previous life. I've always liked Squid-ink pasta. Along with sushi and pizza and etc.

"He'll have the Squid-ink pasta."

Kage answered for me.

"And what may you have?"

"The Dragon Sundae."

Whoa, dragon sundae? That sounds... quite delicious. But at the same time, I hope it's not actually made from dragons.

"Alright. A Squid-ink pasta and a Dragon Sundae!"

The old man yelled, and someone in the back yelled back alright.

"Now what drinks may you want?"

We got water, and then our food arrived. I was really starving, and I really wanted to eat. But then, I realized... how am I going to eat without exposing my hands?!

I gulped. Kage seemed to notice what was going on, and not even he had a clue on what to do.

But then the old man whispered.

"It's alright, you may hide your appearance but you can't hide your scent."

I looked up, and the old man smiled. Something about his smile seemed to be off.

"After all, I am a demon too."

Judging from his chuckle, I was probably wearing a shocked expression. This guy is a demon?!

"But aren't demons supposed to be... like... demon-like?"

"Ohoho, well, I suppose. But I'm a Cambion. A demon-human hybrid. I'm able to hide my horns and my tail if I wish."

"So does form mirror your age?"

"Of course, I'm an old man. 70 years old."

"Wow, how long have you been working here?"

"Mmm, let's see, this place was establish about thirty years ago so... thirty years."

"Thirty years? Do you like working here?"

"Of course... well... it tends to get a bit out of hand sometimes."

Crash!

Kage and I turned our heads, and behind us, there were two people fighting. Guild members.

"Hey now, you two play nice, I don't want you two destroying the place again!"

"Heh heh, you betcha!"

The old man sighed and shook his head.

"Anyway, you have no fear of revealing your arms in front of me. I'll warn you when someone comes."

"Alright, thanks, man."

"No problem."

I slowly lifted my arms and took a hold of the utensils. I looked around cautiously before consuming the pasta whole. The old man looked at me and scratched his chin. After I finished, I took the napkin and wiped my mouth.

"Ahhh~. Finally..."

This is the first food that I've eaten in another world. To my surprise, it almost tasted like the pasta that I ate in my previous life. It had completely satisfied my hunger.

"Say... what kind of demon are you?"

"Hmm?"

The old man asked me as he crossed his arms.

"Well... to be honest, I don't even know."

"What do you mean?"

He was visibly confused. Not only him, but even Kage was confused.

"Well, how should I say it...?"

How should I put it...? I'm a human reincarnated as a demon? Nah... they would call me crazy if I said that. Maybe... I should say... I lost my memories? Yeah, that's a good lie.

"I lost my memories. I don't know what kind of demon I am."

That caused the old man to be more suspicious of me. I gulped and looked at Kage. He was still eating his dragon sundae.

Eventually, the old man just shrugged it off and wished me and Kage a good night.

***

That night, I had a weird dream. I was walking on water, wandering around. I had no sense of where I was going and I couldn't control my body. It was as if my body was moving on its own.

Eventually, I had arrived at a strange island where a body was chained on a rock. It was a man with black hair. He had scars and gashes all over his chest and all over his arms. He looked starved and you could see that he was withered. He probably hasn't eaten in a few weeks.

As I approached him, my hand reached out and my body began reacting. But I noticed that my hand looked a bit different. It had more muscles which made it look a bit bulky and my nails were like that of an eagle's talons.

Then the man suddenly woke up, revealing soulless gray eyes.

As my hand was nearing his chest. It suddenly changed its direction and now I was grabbing onto the man's face.

The man was yelling in agony, but I couldn't hear it. My body was glowing brightly and emitting a rippling aura. As my body kept on glowing, the color on the man's body was losing its color, and eventually, he became all gray and dull.

My body began flashing a rapid color, and then a blood-screeching roar echoed throughout the sky.

[Evolution completed]

[Effect received: Transfiguration]

And that's when the dream ended.

***

I woke up, sunlight pouring through the tiny spaces through the curtains, and there was what sounded like birds chirping. I rubbed my eyes, got up, and yawned.

But it felt weird. When I touched my face, it didn't feel all scaley. Instead, it felt... human.

I looked at my hands and realized they were all human. Not just my hands, it was my legs, my face, my chest and-

I looked down.

My baby!

I touched my face once again and then my hair. My hair felt a bit shorter. How do I look like? I need a mirror.

Luckily, there was a mirror on the desk. I took it and looked at my reflection. There was a handsome young teen in my place. I had fair, yet pale skin. My hair was short and messy and it was black. It was weird how I have black hair when I had white hair in my demon form. The same thing could go for my eyes, I had yellow pupils as a demon but as a human they're red. My physique was a slim but fit build.

Wait, does this mean I can't become my demon form anymore?

Ding!

[Transfiguration: Switch from Demon Form and Human Form at will]

[Warning: When in Human Form, your ability to use your claws will be ineffective and the effect impenetrable skin will be greatly reduced]

That makes sense, after all, a human can't have claws.

Knock-knock!

Someone was knocking on my door.

"Noctem, we've been waiting ten minutes for you, c'mon let's go."

That voice was Luna's.

"W-wait a minute, don't open the door yet."

"Hmm? Why? Wait, why do you sound a bit different?"

"I-it's nothing!"

"I'm coming in."

"Wait!"

Then she opened the door. She looked at me. Then, as her eyes traced down my body, her face reddened up.

"W... w..."

She stuttered. Then she fainted in the hallway, landing with a thud.

I scratched the back of my head. Then Kage walked in and looked at Luna on the floor, then at me.

"Oh Kage, you came at the right time, can you... buy me some clothes?"

"Alright."

He said without asking who I was. I'm guessing he already knows who I am.

I looked over at Luna, who was passed out. Guess I should drag her inside before people get the wrong idea. A body in the hallways...

Well, if it was me, I would've just assumed she got drunk and passed out.