CHAPTER 2 — The Crimson Woman

Pain.

That was the first thing Kael felt.

Not the kind you ignore.
Not the kind you sleep through.

This was different.

Deep. Heavy. Everywhere.

“…ugh…”

He tried to move.

Failed.

“…okay… this is definitely not heaven…”

Slowly, painfully, he opened his eyes.

Dark trees.

Cold air.

A strange smell.

Wet soil… and blood.

Kael blinked.

“…wait…”

Silence.

Then—

A growl.

Low. Close. Hungry.

Kael froze.

“…no… no no no…”

He turned his head.

Red eyes.

In the shadows.

One. Two. Five.

More appeared.

Monsters.

Tall. Twisted. Wrong.

Kael’s heart dropped.

“THIS IS NOT THE ISEKAI I ASKED FOR—!”

The monsters moved.

Slowly.

Like they knew he couldn’t escape.

Kael forced his body up. His legs trembled.

“Move… MOVE!”

He ran.

Branches scratched his arms. Roots nearly tripped him. His breath broke apart.

Behind him—claws tore through the forest.

“WHY ARE THEY SO FAST?!”

He looked back.

Big mistake.

They were closer.

Much closer.

“I just got here and I’m already dying?!”

His legs weakened. His body couldn’t keep up.

“Come on… come on…!”

Then—

He stopped.

A cliff.

High. Too high.

The wind roared below.

Kael turned slowly.

The monsters surrounded him.

“…seriously…?”

One step back.

The ground broke.

“WAIT—!”

He slipped.

And fell.

The world spun.

The sky disappeared.

The ground rushed up.

“…this is it…”

A thought crossed his mind.

“…I didn’t even start my harem…”

CRASH.

Pain exploded through his body.

“GAAAH—!”

He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move.

His vision blurred.

Above him—

Shadows.

The monsters had followed.

“…you’ve got to be kidding me…”

One stepped forward, raising its claws.

Kael tried to move.

Nothing.

“…I don’t want to die…”

Then—

A sound.

Soft. Light.

A step.

The air changed.

Heavy.

Cold.

Terrifying.

The monster froze.

Then—

It split in half.

Silence.

Kael’s eyes widened.

A figure stood there.

A woman.

Long crimson hair flowing.

Blue eyes glowing faintly.

Her presence alone made the monsters hesitate.

She moved.

Slow.

Graceful.

Deadly.

The monsters attacked.

They disappeared.

No fight.

No struggle.

Just gone.

Silence returned.

Kael stared, breathing weakly.

“…okay…”

“…I think I’m in love…”

She walked toward him.

Step by step.

Until she stood above him, looking down.

Up close—

She was unreal.

Beautiful.

Dangerous.

Kael blinked weakly.

“…yep…”

“…definitely my type…”

She didn’t react.

She knelt beside him.

Her hand touched his chest.

Cold.

But steady.

Kael flinched slightly.

“…you’re real…”

Her eyes locked onto his.

Deep. Sharp.

“Your body is failing.”

Her voice was calm. Controlled.

“You will die.”

“…yeah… figured that out…”

Even now, he tried to joke.

She leaned closer.

Too close.

Kael’s heart skipped.

“…okay… don’t think weird things… don’t think weird things…”

“Do you want to live?”

Silence.

His vision darkened.

His strength fading.

But he forced his eyes open.

“…yes…”

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

Not kind.

Not warm.

Dangerous.

“Then accept me.”

Light exploded.

Crimson. Dark. Overwhelming.

Kael’s body lifted slightly.

Something entered him.

Power.

Pain.

Heat.

“W-WAIT—WHAT IS THIS—?!”

He couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.

His body felt like it was breaking—and rebuilding at the same time.

“THIS IS NOT NORMAL—!”

Everything went black.

Silence.

Warm air.

Soft light.

Kael slowly opened his eyes.

A room.

Clean. Quiet.

“…alive…?”

He sat up—

And froze.

A woman stood beside him.

The same one.

Completely calm.

Completely—

Kael’s brain stopped.

“…wait…”

His eyes widened.

“…WAIT WAIT WAIT—!”

He turned his head, then back, then away again.

“WHAT IS GOING ON—?!”

She looked at him.

Unbothered.

“You’re awake.”

“THAT’S NOT THE PROBLEM—!”

He covered his face, half dying inside.

“…why… why is this happening to me…”

She stepped closer.

Slow. Confident.

“You made a choice.”

She stopped in front of him, looking directly into his eyes.

“And now…”

A faint smile.

“You are no longer human.”

Silence.

Kael blinked.

“…wait…”

He looked at her.

Then at himself.

Then back at her.

“…does that mean…”

A small smile appeared on his face.

“…my harem life just started?”

She stared at him.

Silence.

Then—

A very slight… amused expression.

“We’ll see.”