Luck was never on my side. If anything, it seemed like the universe had a personal grudge against me.
I lost my parents when I was just a child and had to learn to survive alone. With nothing but my own grit and stubbornness, I scraped by. As a commoner, opportunities were scarce—hope, even scarcer. Eventually, I fell in with a bandit group. It wasn't glamorous, but it kept me alive.
We were called EELS—a ragtag crew of outlaws barely held together by desperation and greed. One stormy night, far from civilization, we went on what was supposed to be a high-paying raid. Word had it that a young noble was traveling from the capital—an easy target, or so we believed.
But as usual, my luck ran dry.
The ambush was set, our weapons ready, but we had no idea we were walking into a massacre.
"For the attempted theft and possible murder of Dustera von Tevone, son of Viscount Dustera von Thermis, you all shall die here."
His voice was soft, almost gentle, but it chilled me to my core. One by one, my companions fell. We weren't a family, but we shared food, fights, and fleeting laughter. Watching them die—so fast, so easily—left me numb.
And then it was my turn.
"P-Please… spare me," I begged, my voice shaking.
"You dare beg? You want mercy?" His eyes narrowed in disgust. "What makes scum like you think you deserve mercy?"
Slash.
A sharp pain surged through my chest. My vision blurred, then cleared just enough for me to see the blood. I gasped as my chest tightened. My knees buckled.
'Damn… we really fucked up. A noble is still a noble, after all…'
Then came a swoosh. A strange warmth flooded my body.
"Huh…?"
"Make a contract with me."
The voice was foreign—neither male nor female, more like a whisper inside my soul.
"Why?" I muttered weakly.
"Because you meet the requirements to be my vessel."
"A… vessel? Why me?"
"Your body is unusually sensitive to mana, aura… and possibly even aether. But there's no time to explain. Make the contract, or you won't last much longer. I'll grant you power—and an easy life in return."
"…Are you sure I'll get power?"
"Yes. All you have to do is give up a bit of vitality each time you use it."
That didn't sound so bad. Compared to death, it was a bargain.
"Then… I agree to the contract," I said, barely audible.
fwoosh
"Good choice," the voice echoed with satisfaction. "Grand Trick of Repair."
---
The Next Morning
"Ugh, my whole body aches," I groaned as I slowly sat up.
"What's that smell?" I mumbled, looking around.
Puke
'That's right... we were all killed here. Then how the hell am I alive? And what's up with my hands? They're so small…'
"Yes, they are," said a woman's voice, soft but sharp.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice shaking as I looked around.
"I'm down here," said the voice again—this time floating in front of me in a tiny, fairy-like form.
"Who the hell are you?" I snapped, unnerved.
"I am Erelya, one of the seventy-two demons of hell. I'm the Demon of Ecstasy, former holder of the Eleventh Seat."
"Why the hell are you so small now?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"This is the ideal form to avoid draining your vitality too quickly. Anyway, let's talk more once we leave. This place reeks of blood."
"True. Fine. Let's get out of here," I agreed.
"Can anyone see you like this?" I asked as we moved.
"Yes, they can," Erelya replied.
"Damn, that's gonna be tough. Hide in my clothes for now."
"Why? Doesn't your realm have spirits and elves?" she asked curiously.
"They do, but they're rare. And one hovering around a human child? That's even rarer."
"Human, huh? Interesting," she muttered.
"What did you mean by that?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"Nothing important. Don't worry about it," she brushed it off.
I had my doubts, but I decided to let it go—for now.
"I'm starving," I groaned.
"Then get some food," Erelya said simply.
"I don't have money. And I've been meaning to ask—why do I look like a nine-year-old kid?"
"Your injuries were too severe. I had to rewind time on your body to save you. Right now, you're physically nine, but mentally still twenty-two."
"Hmm… Then why do I look more attractive?" I said as I caught my reflection in a nearby window.
"You're my vessel. Consider it a bit of remodeling," she said with a smirk. "You still have your original features—just refined. Enhanced senses, stronger body, slightly better eyesight… but otherwise, you're still you."
"Oh, that's nice. So I'll grow up into a good-looking guy, huh? Then I just have to make sure I avoid getting those scars again."
"Ugh, you mean those? They were nasty," she replied, clearly remembering.
"I know," I sighed.
"Anyway, when are we going to eat? You said you were hungry."
"I am. But I'm broke. I was supposed to live off the money from the raid for a month or two... but, well, you know how that went."
"Sad. So what's the plan now?"
"There's this place I go to… They pay you to sleep with female customers," I said, a bit embarrassed but hopeful.
"Nice. But let me tell you two reasons this might not work. One: you can't have children—my power drains your vitality constantly. Two: you look like a kid right now."
"No problem. I never planned to have kids. But yeah, looking like this is a real issue."
---
WE ARRIVED
"Welcome to Velvet Rose Brothel. Are you here as a guest?" a worker asked as I walked in.
"No, I'd like to apply for work," I answered.
"Then please, follow me. We're on a tight schedule," he said, leading me inside.
After getting dressed, I looked at Erelya. "Are you sure this is going to work?"
"Yes. No one should notice the illusion. Though… it'll constantly drain your vitality," she warned.
"Okay. I hope you're right…"
As I entered the room, a rush of familiar excitement hit me. It had been a while since I'd had sex—even if it was never about love and always at brothels, it still felt good.
The woman waiting inside had an elegant figure with curves that were obvious even under her clothes.
"So they allow kids in here? What a disgusting place," she said coldly.
"What?! I thought you said this was foolproof!" I whispered urgently to Erelya.
"Well… it should've been. Only intermediate swordmasters and higher can sense through illusions like this. Judging by her mana... she might be a high-ranking mage. That would explain it," Erelya responded.
"Kid. Sit," the woman ordered, her tone sharp and commanding.
I didn't hesitate—I sat quickly. No way was I going to risk angering someone that powerful. She had noble air about her. Possibly even royalty.
"Deactivate the illusion. We've been found out already," I muttered.
"Okay," Erelya replied.
Swoosh
"Hmm. So this is what you really look like. What are you doing in a place like this?" the woman asked, her gaze unreadable.
"I'm here to work. I need money—to eat and survive," I said honestly.
There was a knock at the door.
Knock knock
"Aranea, it's me," came a man's voice from outside.
She opened the door and scowled.
"You're back after leaving me?" she snapped.
"Sorry… I had to chase down those bandits. I didn't expect to find you here.And It was the safest place…"
"Anyway, honey," she leaned in and whispered something to him.
"What? What do you mean by adopt?" he asked, stunned as he looked at me.
"He does look decent. And he has blonde hair like our other kids, so…" he said, trailing off.
"Kid, would you like to be adopted?" she asked suddenly.
"What the fuck do you mean adopt?!" I blurted out.
"Would you like to be our child?" she asked again, this time with a bright, eager smile.
"W-What!?" I stammered in disbelief.
Erelya, meanwhile, was laughing her ass off inside my shirt.