The Incubus Demonic Energy

At the narrow trail marking the entrance to the mountain range leading toward Bing Province.

“My lord, it must be nice having so many young ladies fawning over you,” A-on said, her expression slightly pouty.

“Haha~”

Seo Jun gave a hearty laugh, as if a little embarrassed, and reached out to gently pat A-on’s head.

Time to head home quickly. I’ve saved more than enough money, and I’m starting to miss it.

Seo Jun set off, and before long he noticed that his Karma had piled up considerably.

I really accumulated a lot. Over five thousand. I did kill quite a few this time.

What should I roll for? I’ll draw for everything except Politics. It’s not like I’ll be handling government affairs anyway, hehe.

Seo Jun began the gacha rolls for the first time in a while.

Five ability orbs and one trait orb.

After confirming all the ability orbs, each of his stats had risen slightly. All that remained now was the single trait orb. The anticipation from just one orb made Seo Jun’s heart race.

“Huh!?”

Having obtained such a peculiar trait, Seo Jun unconsciously let the exclamation slip out.

“Is something wrong?”

“Ah~ it’s nothing.”

Seo Jun waved at the two women to reassure them.

“Status window.”

His abilities ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had risen quite a bit, and his Spear Art had finally reached A-rank.

Holy shit… am I an incubus now?

A dream demon that appears in women’s dreams to engage in sexual acts or arouse their desires. The description matched the Incubus Demonic Energy perfectly.

Without realizing what kind of consequences his change would bring in the future, Seo Jun hurried toward Bing Province with his companions.

The party moved at high speed, passing through Jinjeong County in Sangshan Commandery before reaching Jeonghyeong Pass. Located at the entrance to the Taihang Mountains where they opened toward Bing Province, the area led into the Jeonghyeong Basin and was therefore called Jeonghyeong Pass. Beyond it lay the Hwanwan Fortress, built across successive valleys, and past that was the Jeonghyeong Basin formed in the middle of the mountain range, with Jeonghyeong County situated at its center.

Moving swiftly, the party arrived at Jeonghyeong County late at night. They rested for one night at an inn in the county and were preparing their horses early the next morning to depart again when a sturdy-looking official accompanied by four soldiers approached Seo Jun’s group.

“Are you planning to head through the western gate?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

Seo Jun’s eyes narrowed with caution at the sudden appearance of the official.

“Ah~ there’s no need to be so wary. I am the county magistrate of this Jeonghyeon, Jeo Su. Bandits have been appearing frequently on the road to Sangae County through the western gate, and many travelers have been attacked. I came to warn those setting out on their journey.”

Jeo Su? I feel like I’ve heard that name before.

It was definitely a familiar name.

Damn. Maybe I should focus on raising my Intelligence next time? Will a sharper mind help me recall things faster?

“Ah~ I see! Thank you for your concern, Lord Magistrate. I am Seo Jun, from Sakbang. I am returning to my hometown, so while I appreciate your worry, taking any route other than this one would make the journey far too long.”

“Seo Jun… Could your courtesy name be White Dragon?”

“Yes, it is. Do you know me, Lord Magistrate?”

“Of course! Naturally. The White Dragon is the hero of Ji Province these days! To meet you in person is truly an honor.”

Having identified Seo Jun, Jeo Su seemed genuinely delighted.

Seo Jun’s name was now spreading rapidly across the region as that of a hero who had appeared like a comet during the chaos in Ji Province. In particular, the phrase “Beauty like Song Ok, martial prowess like the Heavenly General” that had begun in the Gyeon clan was now circulating widely, and the nickname Black Wind Heavenly General Seo Jun was quickly gaining fame. As a result, many women and warriors had grown curious about him.

“The rumors do not do you justice. Your martial skill must be incredible if even half the stories are true, and your face truly resembles a living Song Ok—so handsome.”

“You flatter me, Lord Magistrate. I don’t know where to look.”

“Well, if it is the White Dragon, a few bandits should be no problem at all, so my worries are eased. If the opportunity arises, I would be even more grateful if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you could clear out those bandits for the sake of the people who must travel that road in the future.”

Unlike most officials, Jeo Su seemed to be a rare good administrator who truly cared for the country and its people.

“Lord Magistrate, if the chance comes, I would like to meet again and speak at length.”

“White Dragon, travel safely. Let us meet again when fate allows.”

After receiving Jeo Su’s farewell, Seo Jun passed through the western gate. The flatlands continued for a short while before the path entered the narrow passage between valleys.

Ah! He was one of Yuan Shao’s strategists!! He seemed quite capable.

The memory of Jeo Su finally surfaced. He had been a fairly outstanding strategist under Yuan Shao and had remained loyal to the end, dying with his lord. Since Seo Jun had been more interested in the generals serving under Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and Sun Quan rather than those under Yuan Shao, the name had not come to mind immediately.

Still, I’ve learned of another decent person.

After spending a night camping outdoors, the three continued along the path that would lead them to Sangae County after passing only two more valleys.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Shashashashak.

From the forests on both sides of the path the party traveled, roughly thirty masked bandits emerged, armed with swords, spears, pickaxes, and sharpened bamboo poles. Two figures stepped forward from each group to lead them. From their revealed physiques and curved figures, they were clearly women.

“Listen up! If you value your lives, hand over everything you’re carrying and get lost. Do that and we won’t take your lives!”

The woman deliberately thickened her voice to sound like a man as she issued the threat.

These aren’t proper bandits. Excluding the two women in front, their weapon stances were sloppy, and every one of them had their hips pulled back, ready to flee at any moment.

In Seo Jun’s eyes, they were not experienced robbers who had properly plundered people before. No matter how untrained, once bandits began harming others, a certain viciousness would settle in their bodies and killing intent would appear in their eyes. Yet these two women, while toned from some martial training, were not particularly skilled, and the rest were clearly amateurs who had never harmed anyone, merely filling out the numbers.

“Haha~ these guys are completely frozen! Don’t worry too much—just hand over what you have and nothing will happen!”

Misinterpreting Seo Jun and his companions’ stunned silence as fear, the female leader on the left ridge laughed and stepped forward a little more.

“You lot stay to the side with Black Dragon.”

Crack!

Seo Jun dismounted, snapped off a long branch as thick as a child’s arm from a nearby tree, and fashioned himself a club.

“Y-you bastard! We told you to leave the money and go! Have you not even heard of our Jeol-ae Bandits?!”

Seeing that Seo Jun showed no fear despite facing thirty opponents and instead stepped forward with a club, the leader on the right raised her voice in panic. Until now, everyone they had confronted had been intimidated by their numbers and obediently done as told. Although they had no choice but to become bandits, they themselves feared and hated fighting, so they had only targeted groups of five or fewer, scaring them into handing over their belongings. This was the first time someone like Seo Jun had armed himself and advanced toward them.

“W-we’re the Jeol-ae Bandits!! Just give us the money and leave!!!”

Tap. Tap. Tap.

As Seo Jun approached, striking the club against nearby trees, the bandits grew even more desperate.