'Head… my head hurts,' Yui thinks.
The pain sits right behind her eyes like a weight, pulsing softly with each heartbeat. She opens them slowly to a world she doesn't recognize—so bright, so vivid, the sky almost surreal. Blue, deeper than the ocean. Grass, wild and waving, like fingers reaching for her.
But we're getting ahead of ourselves.
Let's go back—just two hours ago.
—
The scent of paper and old wood hits Yui like a warm hug as she steps into the small secondhand bookstore tucked between a laundromat and a run-down café. The bell above the door jingles overhead, though no one seems to be around to notice it.
She exhales slowly.
Peace.
Bookshelves loom in gentle chaos—rows of fantasy spines stacked shoulder-to-shoulder, leaning against each other like old friends.
Dust dances in the sunlight filtering through the windows. Her favorite corner is quiet, as always.
Yui slides off her jacket and begins her hunt.
She isn't looking for anything specific—only a feeling. A title that pulls at her soul, a cover that whispers promises of danger, laughter, romance. She wants it all. She lives for it. Her love for stories is... excessive. The over-the-top kind that kept her up at night, giggling into a pillow over stolen kisses between fictional strangers.
She hums under her breath, eyes scanning spines, trailing fingers over the worn textures. Her phone vibrates. She ignores it. There are only two things that make her feel truly alive: love stories—and beautiful people.
Male, female, elf, or alien. If they were hot, Yui would fall in love. Or at least fantasize about it a little too loudly. Her standards were loose, her tastes wide. Some people had types. Yui had a buffet.
But today she's on the warpath.
Because she had just finished reading trance's in her eyes a romance novel hyped to the heavens... and her disappointment had turned her soul into ash.
"What a flaming dumpster of wasted potential," she mutters as she crouches by the 'Fantasy Romance' section, still bitter.
"Hot demon lord meets a human girl from another world. Should've been my dream. But nooo."
She snatches a book off the shelf and flips through it, not even reading the title.
"He fell in love with her in two pages. Two. Why? Because she tripped into his castle and said 'ow'? No chemistry. No buildup. Just 'I will destroy the world for you' like a hormonal raccoon."
Yui rolls her eyes so hard it hurts. "And she forgave him for massacring a village because he cried one time. I get it—horns are sexy. But come on. If I were the girl who have the power to seduce a powerful demon… I would've build a harem! Male, female, dragon, sentient teacup, I don't care. I'd use my charm, and my powerful tear to get that thick ass…"
As if on cue, the book she's holding begins to glow.
Yui blinks.
"…Okay, bookstore hallucination. I've officially hit rock bottom."
The light brightens, spilling from the pages like fireflies. Panic flickers too late.
The world warps.
And then—
Nothing.
Her back touches grass.
The world returns with color too sharp, sounds too clear. She wakes to the sky. Alive. Awake.
And completely naked.
Yui bolts upright, arms crossing instinctively. The breeze against her bare skin makes her stomach twist.
"What the—?!"
Her voice is different. Deeper, more resonant. She looks down.
And everything stops.
She stares. Long. Speechless.
A sharp intake of breath. A slow blink. Then:
"…I have a dick."
A pause.
"…A really nice one."
Her horror is immediate—but her curiosity is louder. She brings her hands up, her arms longer now, her skin was tanned, smoother. Fingers tipped with elegant claws. She brushes against her hair—long, silky, and white.
She touches her horns.
"Horns."
She runs her hands along her chest—flat. Sculpted. Down her stomach—abs, very nice abs. Her legs—powerful, toned, lean like a dancer's.
She should be panicking.
Instead...
"Oh my god I'm hot."
She turns in place, trying to see herself fully. Her skin glows faintly in the sun. Her reflection appears in a pool nearby—tall, striking. Iridescent eyes. Delicate fangs. And those horns—arched, graceful, like a crown.
"I'd date me," she murmurs.
"I'd absolutely date me."
She turns slightly, admiring her backside, and lets out a low whistle. "Yep. Ten outta ten. Would smash."
Yui has officially accepted her fate.
Whatever it is.
She doesn't notice them at first. She's too caught up in admiring the glimmer of her eyes, the wicked curve of her smile, the powerful grace in her demon form.
Then—
Shhhk—
A sword whistles past her face, slicing through a strand of her silver-white hair.
She freezes.
Just behind her, a man stands, sword drawn, brow tense with concentration. A party of three others—two women and another man—stand behind him, weapons raised but expressions… uncertain.
She steps back, hands raised. "Whoa, whoa, whoa—! Hey! Can we not kill me right now?!"
The man—young, maybe twenty, armored in silver and navy—stares at her. His golden hair falls messily into storm-gray eyes. His stance screams hero. But his face…
He's blushing.
So is the rogue girl to his left.
The priest behind them averts her gaze entirely.
Even the mage beside them clears his throat awkwardly.
Yui, still gloriously naked, blinks.
"D-Demon," the blond stammers, trying—and failing—to keep his eyes at shoulder level. "You're trespassing in human lands. Identify yourself!"
Yui's mind races.
She opens her mouth.
Then closes it.
Her brain catches up with her heart. She has no clue where she is. She has no clothes. She has a penis. And she's apparently just been mistaken for the enemy by a literal hero party.
"…I," she begins, very slowly, "have no idea what's going on."
The hero takes a cautious step forward.
"I'll ask again," he says. "Name. Allegiance."
"I—I'm just as confused as you are!" she protests. "One second I was looking at a book, the next—bam, demon dick in the grass! I swear I'm not trying to burn your village down!"
The rogue snorts. The mage mutters, "He's not lying. Or at least, he thinks he's not."
The priest glances at the hero. "Cael, what do we do?"
So that's his name—Cael.
Cael doesn't respond immediately. His gaze lingers on her—no, him—with the caution of a seasoned knight and the curiosity of a young man encountering the unknown. His sword remains drawn, but his posture has softened, betraying a hint of uncertainty.
"...You're unarmed," he finally observes, his voice steady yet tinged with relief .
"Extremely," Yui deadpans, still attempting to cover herself with what little modesty she can muster. However, her efforts are futile; her proud junior is undeniably prominent.
Seriously, how many victories can she claim? She's practically the embodiment of the perfect dream man.
Cael's ears go red.
The mage sighs. "We're wasting time. Just bind him."
"I'm a actually a her, thank you very much!" Yui snaps.
Cael lowers his sword slightly. "…Right."
Silence falls between them.
Yui swallows, her voice a whisper. "I don't know what… am I or where I… but i can assure you I'm not evil!"
The rogue, still eyeing her with suspicion, crosses her arms. "Then what are you?"
Yui hesitates, then straightens her posture, trying to exude some semblance of authority. keyword: tried. "I... I was at a bookstore. I picked up a book, and then... this happened."
The priest, who had been silently observing, steps forward. "A book? What kind of book?"
Yui looks down at her glowing hands, still trying to comprehend the situation. "It was a romance novel. About a demon who fell in love with a girl from another world. It was... frustratingly unrealistic."
The mage raises an eyebrow. "So, you're saying you were transported here because of a book?"
Yui nods slowly. "I think so. I don't know how or why, but I don't belong here."
Cael stands firm, his sword still drawn but lowered slightly. His eyes narrow as he assesses the situation, his mind racing.
"You think I'm stupid?" he asks, his voice laced with skepticism.
The priest, who had been silently observing, steps forward. "Wait," he says, his tone thoughtful. "Maybe... maybe she is an otherworldly."
The mage, who had been quietly watching Yui, raises an eyebrow. "It might be true," he murmurs. "I didn't sense any lies from… her from the start."
Yui, still trying to make sense of her predicament, looks between the group and added. "I swear, I'm not evil. I don't even know how I got here."
Cael sheaths his sword, his expression still firm. "Then we'll help you. But you'll need to come with us."
Yui nods, still unsure but relieved that they aren't immediately hostile. "Thank you."
As they begin to move, the rogue, with a red face, steps forward with a bundle of clothes. "Here," she says, tossing the bundle to Yui.
"Put these on."
Yui catches the clothes, her eyes widening in surprise. "Uh, thanks," she mutters, still unsure how to proceed.
The rogue gave a weak smile. "Don't mention it. Just don't go around naked."
Yui blushes, feeling a mix of embarrassment and gratitude. She quickly dons the clothes, which fit surprisingly well. The soft leather tunic and trousers are comfortable, and the dark cloak adds a touch of mystery.
As she adjusts the cloak, she catches a glimpse of herself in a nearby stream. The reflection staring back at her is that of a tall, muscular demon with striking features—sharp horns, glowing purple eyes, and a presence that exudes power.
"Well," she… he mutters to himself, "this is going to take some getting used to."
The group continues their journey, and Yui can't help but feel a mix of confusion and curiosity.