The luck that followed Felix around had many benefits.
Sometimes it meant stumbling across rare herbs while walking through the forest.
Other times it meant arriving at a village that just happened to be celebrating a festival, the smell of roasted meat and sweet bread drifting through the air long before he even saw the houses.
But Hero's luck had another peculiar trait.
It seemed to attract people who needed saving.
In the past few weeks alone, Felix had helped eight caravans fend off bandits or monsters, and rescued more than a dozen travelers who would have likely died otherwise.
Once he had simply been walking along a forest trail when he heard shouting ahead.
A merchant caravan had been ambushed by a pack of dire wolves.
Felix had barely stepped out of the bushes before one of the wolves tripped over a loose rock while charging him, sliding straight into the swing of his sword.
Another time he had arrived at a clearing just as a group of hunters were about to be overwhelmed by oversized boars.
And on one occasion he had helped a poor lumberjack who had managed to trap himself under the very tree he had been cutting.
That one had required considerably less swordsmanship.
Hero's luck worked in strange ways.
Still… saving people wasn't just a noble thing.
Sometimes it paid off too.
Like now.
Felix was currently staying in a quiet farming village, receiving training from a rather grumpy old dragonewt.
The whole situation had started three days earlier.
Mjurran had suggested that they sell the excess items they had looted from Clayman's mansion and convert them into proper currency.
It was a sensible idea.
The only problem was where.
Most small settlements simply didn't have enough wealth to buy magical scrolls, enchanted items, or rare monster materials.
But in the City of the Forgotten Dragon, the capital of Demon Lord Milim's territory, selling them would be easy.
Felix, however, had immediately rejected the idea.
Not because the plan was bad.
But because he knew something Mjur didn't.
In the Tensura world, Heroes and Demon Lords had an unfortunate tendency to run into each other.
And if Felix went anywhere near Milim's capital…
He would almost certainly meet her.
Right now, Felix did not want to stand within ten kilometers of what was essentially a walking super-weapon.
Even with his Unique Skill.
Even if it evolved into its Ultimate Skill form someday.
Against someone like Milim?
Not even close.
So instead, Felix had suggested a compromise.
Mjurran would go to the City of the Forgotten Dragon alone, sell the goods, and meet him later in another town further along the road.
Meanwhile, Felix would travel through the smaller villages nearby.
Mjurran had been confused by the decision, but she hadn't questioned him.
From her perspective, Felix simply seemed like a wandering hero who preferred helping small communities rather than spending time in a bustling city.
After they parted ways, she had taken the carriage with her—since she needed it for transporting the goods.
Felix continued on foot.
With a small white fox sleeping on his shoulder.
The creature had barely woken since he rescued her.
Her breathing was steady now, but she remained weak, often drifting in and out of sleep as Felix walked.
It was during one of these quiet forest walks that Felix had encountered the dragonewt.
The man had been locked in battle with a large monster.
From the look of it, the fight had not been going well.
The creature resembled a massive, scaled boar with jagged tusks and thick hide.
It was easily twice the size of the dragonewt and had already knocked him to the ground once.
The dragonewt swung his spear again, but the monster slammed into him with its shoulder, sending him rolling across the dirt.
Felix sighed softly.
"…Alright."
He drew his sword.
The terrain was uneven, roots and stones scattered everywhere—but navigating it had become second nature to him after weeks of traveling.
He slipped behind the monster while it focused on the dragonewt.
Then, in a single clean motion—
His blade flashed.
The creature's head separated from its body.
The body remained standing for a moment.
Then collapsed.
Felix sheathed his sword.
He had become somewhat used to this by now.
His attacks rarely missed.
Enemies sometimes failed to notice him at the perfect moment.
Occasionally they simply tripped at the worst possible time.
Hero's luck was… strange.
There were moments when Felix wondered if he could eventually defeat someone just by standing there while their own attacks backfired.
It hadn't happened yet.
But honestly, with his luck?
It felt possible.
"Thank you, kind hero," the dragonewt said, breathing heavily as he pushed himself up.
Felix glanced at him.
The man was large, with thick scales and a muscular build. Judging by the bruises and cuts covering him, the fight had been rough.
"Don't thank me yet," Felix replied.
"Where do you live? I'll walk you back."
The dragonewt hesitated before answering.
"…Goldimar. My name."
As it turned out, Goldimar was tougher than he looked.
After a few minutes of resting, he managed to stand on his own and walk.
Which Felix was grateful for.
He had briefly considered carrying him back to the village, and the mental image of that had not been encouraging.
During the walk, Felix learned that Goldimar had been training alone in the forest.
Unfortunately, he had underestimated the monster he chose to fight.
By the time they reached the village in the evening, Goldimar was already insisting Felix stay at his house.
Felix had planned to leave the next morning.
But things changed when he met Goldijar.
Goldimar's father.
The old dragonewt had once been part of the Dragon Faithful, a group of warriors devoted to serving Demon Lord Milim.
In his youth, he had even trained directly under her command.
According to Goldimar, his father had once been considered a prodigy.
But that had ended when he lost his right hand in battle.
After that injury, Goldijar had retired and moved to this quiet village.
When Felix asked if the old warrior could teach him a little—
Goldijar had been delighted.
"You've got potential, boy," the old dragonewt had said, his single remaining hand resting on his cane.
"More than most."
And so the training began.
For the past three days, Felix had been pushed through relentless practice.
Goldijar's teaching style was simple.
Direct.
And occasionally accompanied by a wooden staff to the ribs.
"Battlewill isn't just anger," the old dragonewt explained one evening while Felix stood sweating in the dirt yard.
"It's intent."
Goldijar demonstrated, his body shifting slightly.
For a brief moment Felix could feel pressure radiating from him.
"Your will becomes your weapon."
Felix tried to replicate the sensation.
For most beginners, understanding Battlewill could take months.
Felix grasped the concept in minutes.
Of course…
That was only the beginning.
Because Felix was already experimenting.
Could Battlewill be used like ki?
What if it flowed through the body like blood?
What if it circulated constantly?
Goldijar often watched these experiments with growing confusion.
"I've trained warriors for decades," the old dragonewt muttered once.
"I've never seen someone learn like this."
Felix scratched the back of his head.
Humanity Unchained was doing most of the work.
"I feel like I'm learning from you," Goldijar grumbled after watching Felix replicate one of his techniques perfectly.
The old dragonewt still taught him hand-to-hand combat as well.
Basic stances.
Weight shifting.
How to read an opponent's movement.
Felix absorbed everything.
But eventually…
He had to leave.
More than half a month had already passed since his arrival in this world.
And the quest to donate one ton of silver had a deadline.
Three months.
He couldn't stay here forever.
So after thanking both father and son, Felix resumed his journey.
The white fox still slept quietly on his shoulder.
By the time dusk arrived, Felix stopped to rest.
He pulled out the tent he had received from the gacha.
When packed, it looked no larger than a sports bag.
When deployed…
It became a small house.
Mjurran had estimated it was worth hundreds of thousands of Stellar Gold Coins.
Felix stepped inside first to shower.
When he returned outside, he grabbed several sandwiches from the magically replenishing hamper.
Each one was different.
Peanut butter and jam.
Ham and cheese.
Something that might have been tuna.
Felix set up a small campfire and began preparing a simple soup using vegetables he had gathered earlier.
Sure, he had sandwiches.
But eating only sandwiches got boring.
Just as he stirred the pot—
He heard someone sniff.
Felix turned.
A pink-haired girl stood behind him.
Her outfit was… questionable.
And she was staring directly at the food.
"Did you just think something bad about me?" the girl asked, pouting.
Felix blinked.
Of course.
Demon Lord Milim Nava.
"…Of course not," Felix said calmly.
"I was just wondering if you'd like to try one of these sandwiches."
He handed her a peanut butter and jam sandwich.
Milim sniffed it.
Then stuffed the entire thing into her mouth.
Her eyes sparkled.
"Woah!"
She swallowed.
"This is delicious!"
"More!"
Felix raised his hands defensively.
"Unfortunately, I don't have another one of that exact type."
Milim froze.
"…What?"
Felix pointed to the basket.
"They're random."
Milim looked betrayed.
Then Felix offered another sandwich.
"Try these."
"They're good too."
Milim accepted.
Moments later she had eaten half the basket.
And most of the soup.
She leaned back happily.
"Your food is almost as good as Tempest's!"
Felix smiled.
"That's high praise."
Milim suddenly leaned forward.
"You should cook for me!"
"Rimuru has someone named Shuna who makes great food."
"You can be my cook."
"Don't worry! I'm Milim! I can give you anything you want!"
Felix considered the offer.
Technically…
Joining Milim would instantly complete his organization quest.
But…
"No thanks."
Milim blinked.
Felix shrugged.
"I want to get stronger first."
"And build something of my own."
Milim studied him.
Despite her childish behavior, she wasn't stupid.
After a moment she grinned.
"Fine!"
"But you still have to cook for me again!"
She stood up.
Then casually walked into Felix's tent.
"Oh! This place is awesome!"
She jumped onto the bean bag.
"So squishy!"
Felix sighed and sat nearby.
"So," he said.
"What were you doing out here?"
Milim grinned.
"I was running away."
She paused.
"I mean!"
"I was doing very important Demon Lord work."
A/n: Shorter chapter... Since I forgot to write the other half and only saw it now. I'll make it up in next chapter.
Got any CYOA, you wanna include, any perks, traits anything? Comment.
Questions, suggestions, harem, anything and everything comment it.