Chapter 3: The Cabin of the Three Women in the Mountains...

The snowstorm continued raging across the northern mountains as Tyler walked behind the three women.

His legs constantly sank into the snow, and the enormous piece of bear hide draped over him made it even harder to move forward.

The woman who had called him "cute" walked beside him, occasionally glancing in his direction.

Tyler still couldn’t believe how tall they were.

Especially the eldest one. She looked well over two metres tall.

Even the shortest of the three was nearly two heads taller than him.

’Is everyone in this world gigantic, or am I just way too small?’

He looked at his tiny reddish hands sticking out from the bear hide and sighed.

He definitely hated this body.

Audrey slowed her pace slightly until she was walking beside him.

"Are you okay with that cloak?"

Tyler looked up at her.

"Yeah. It’s not as luxurious as what I usually wear, but at least I’m not freezing anymore."

Audrey smiled softly.

"I’m glad to hear that."

Tyler looked away a little.

"...And thanks for skinning the beast for me."

The girl tilted her head slightly.

"You’ve never done it before?"

"Never."

"Seriously?"

Tyler grimaced.

"The only things I’ve ever cut in my life were credit cards."

The tallest woman burst out laughing from up ahead.

"I didn’t understand a single thing he just said."

"Neither did I," the other woman admitted.

Audrey let out a small laugh.

"It’s fine. I make a living doing this."

Tyler looked at her again.

"By skinning monsters?"

"By hunting mountain beasts and selling their hides and meat."

Tyler glanced at the enormous metal bow strapped to her back.

’Right... that makes more sense.’

Then the second tallest woman smirked mischievously.

"Looks like Audrey already found herself a boyfriend."

The girl immediately blushed.

The other woman started laughing too.

"That was fast."

"Elsa, Sienna, stop teasing me."

Tyler silently watched the scene.

It felt strange.

The three of them seemed close.

It felt... nice.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d walked with people who simply talked and laughed together without wanting something from him.

The wind slowly began to weaken.

And finally, between the snow-covered trees, a small wooden cabin appeared.

Smoke rose from the chimney on the roof.

Tyler nearly cried tears of joy the moment he saw it.

Audrey opened the door while snow fell from her shoulders.

Before stepping inside, Tyler spoke.

"Audrey."

The girl slightly turned around.

"Yes?"

"That’s a pretty name."

The girl’s eyes widened just a little.

Then her cheeks turned red again.

"Thank you..."

She quickly looked away and opened the door wider.

"Come on in. We’ll heat some water and get you something to eat."

Tyler stepped inside immediately.

The cabin was simple, but cosy.

Tyler stayed close to the fire.

Sienna slowly approached him.

Now that she was closer, Tyler realised she was absurdly tall.

The woman crossed her arms while looking down at him.

"What’s your name?"

He hesitated for a few seconds.

"...Tyler."

Elsa made a strange face.

"That name doesn’t suit a little demon."

"Because this isn’t my real form."

The three women looked at him.

Tyler pointed at his body in annoyance.

"I’m trapped in this horrible body."

Audrey immediately shook her head.

"You shouldn’t say things like that about yourself."

Tyler stared at her in disbelief.

"Have you looked at me?"

"Yes."

"And you’re still saying that?"

"Yes."

Elsa laughed again.

"He’s weird."

Sienna smiled slightly as she sat near the fire.

"Then you should find yourself a proper demon name."

Tyler let out a heavy sigh.

"The only thing I want right now is revenge against the goddess who put me in this body."

The three sisters froze for a few seconds.

Then Elsa burst into laughter so hard she nearly fell off her chair.

"HAHAHA!"

Sienna started laughing too.

"This demon must’ve hit his head way too hard."

Tyler frowned.

"I’m being serious."

Audrey, however, watched him carefully.

"...I believe him."

The other two turned toward her.

"Are you serious?" Elsa asked.

Audrey sat down near Tyler.

"Well... he doesn’t seem like he’s lying."

Elsa shook her head while laughing.

"It’s impossible for him to have spoken to a goddess."

She dropped herself onto a chair.

"There are tons of lunatics claiming they’ve had contact with the gods."

Tyler raised an eyebrow.

"Tons?"

"Yeah. Especially the people from the church."

Audrey made a small face.

"Don’t talk like that about believers."

Elsa raised her hands.

"I’m just telling the truth."

Tyler blinked several times.

"Wait."

The three women looked at him.

"Are there actually people who can talk to the gods?"

Elsa and Sienna immediately shook their heads.

"No."

"Of course not."

But Audrey hesitated slightly.

"...Well."

The other two looked at her.

"In the Silver City, there’s one of the great churches."

Tyler immediately sat up straighter.

"And?"

"Saints live there who claim they can communicate with the gods."

Tyler’s eyes lit up.

"I need to get there."

Elsa laughed again.

"To the Silver City?"

"Yeah."

Audrey smiled apologetically.

"That’s almost impossible."

"Why?"

"It’s far too far away."

Sienna began pouring something hot into several wooden bowls.

"And you’d probably die before you got there."

Tyler grimaced.

"Thanks for the encouragement."

The woman placed a bowl in front of him.

"First, recover your sanity."

Tyler lowered his gaze.

It was a thick soup made from the bear’s meat.

It didn’t look particularly appetising.

Especially for someone used to expensive restaurants and imported alcohol.

’I seriously miss my old life.’

But his stomach growled violently.

"...I guess I’ll eat this."

He slowly picked up the spoon.

Audrey watched him with amusement.

"You keep making funny faces."

"Because this doesn’t look like food."

Elsa smirked.

"How delicate."

Tyler tasted the soup.

And his eyes widened slightly.

"...Oh."

It wasn’t bad.

Actually...

It was pretty good.

Sienna smiled proudly.

"You’ll get used to it."

Tyler continued eating slowly while warmth finally returned to his body.

Audrey watched him for a few seconds before speaking.

"I don’t think Tyler suits you."

He looked up.

"Huh?"

The girl rested her cheek against one hand while watching him beside the fire.

"Mmm..."

Her eyes wandered over his small horns, reddish skin, and exhausted expression.

"I think you should call yourself Nox."

Tyler blinked.

"Nox..."

"Yeah."

Audrey smiled faintly.

"You look like a Nox."

Elsa let out a laugh.

"That sounds pretty demonic."

Sienna nodded.

"And it fits a demon who wants revenge against a goddess."

Tyler remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he let out a small laugh.

"...I like that name."