Chapter 5: A new enemy has appeared.

The Adventurer’s Guild sat in a bustling market, convenient for adventurers to resupply.

As Flo stepped out, he saw parents and children admiring trinkets by the roadside, families brimming with joy.

The sight strengthened his resolve.

No one should live under darkness, whether from sinister forces or the oppression of the elite.

Flo headed straight for the Silver Moon Chamber. Truth be told, his daggers were on the verge of breaking—durability in the red.

He didn’t know how to maintain weapons. He used cheap white-tier ones, not worth repairing. Better to buy new ones.

The Silver Moon Chamber had everything: magic pressure cookers, magic refrigerators, household goods, clothing, weapons, even tasty snacks—all neatly organized by category.

Flo browsed the weapon section, picking out a pair of daggers. Given the dangers ahead, he splurged on green-tier ones instead of white-tier.

Wasn’t that a bit too stingy?

Sorry, green-tier daggers were all he could afford.

Pathetic!

A fallen noble, his life was better than commoners’ but only on par with an average adventurer. He had little wealth.

Flo bowed politely to the blacksmith.

He handed over a few silver coins.

Then he turned, his gaze drifting to the clothing section… specifically, women’s clothing.

No! Why was he thinking this? Buying women’s clothes was too weird!

He was a real man! A failed man, but still!

But buying for Aphrosia was fine, right? Yes, for Aphrosia! What else would she wear?

Though Aphrosia was another form of himself, Flo couldn’t see the holy maiden as himself. He treated her like a daughter he was raising.

Was it funny that he was his own daughter?

Since that was the case, Aphrosia had no clothes to wear.

How could his daughter be so destitute?

Even if he dressed like a beggar, he couldn’t let his dear Aphrosia suffer!

Girls should be dressed up beautifully, right?

With that, Flo convinced himself. It definitely wasn’t because he wanted to wear women’s clothes! Definitely not!

But trouble always came unexpectedly.

He spotted his longtime rival, the person he loathed most—another fallen noble, Ifrora Phoenix.

Unlike him, she was the young lady of Phoenix County.

The Phoenix family, heirs of the divine phoenix bloodline, had deep roots. Though their blood thinned and they’d been labeled “fallen,” they were far better off than the Astreya family.

Worse, Ifrora had undergone bloodline atavism, becoming a true prodigy. The “fallen” label was a joke—she was a force to be reckoned with.

Among delicate dresses, the cherry-haired girl held a white gauze skirt. Her exquisitely carved face bore a warm, spring-like smile. Tiny wings behind her ears fluttered with her movements, her silky hair like brocade, a beautiful scene like an elf’s dance.

Her red-white-black dress clung to her delicate frame, accentuating her flawless skin.

The absolute territory beneath her skirt teased the eye, white thigh-high stockings hugging her captivating legs. Platinum boots guarded her pristine feet like a knight, warding off any defilement.

As if sensing something, she glanced over, her smile deepening with a new edge.

If Ifrora’s earlier smile was radiant and pure, now it carried an aggressive intent, as if to cage her prey.

Flo didn’t hesitate—he bolted.

Aphrosia? Who cares about a daughter when his life was at stake!

“Hmph…”

The cherry-haired girl moved faster, a flash of firelight bringing her before Flo. Despite his assassin-honed reflexes, kicking off to change direction, she wasn’t letting him escape. She seemed to predict his every move.

Seeing no way out, Flo gave up.

He resorted to verbal sparring. A small-time adventurer couldn’t fight a phoenix with awakened blood.

“Don’t go too far, Little Pink Chicken!”

The cherry-haired girl smirked, closing in. Her finger poked Flo’s chest, forcing him back.

“Hey, Pointy Ears, shopping in the women’s section? Trying to dress up as a cute boy to charm me?”

Flo’s face flushed—not from embarrassment, but rage!

“What nonsense! As if you’re worthy, Little Pink Chicken?”

“I heard a certain pointy-eared guy prayed at the church for ten days straight, begging your ancestor to fix your pathetic life?”

“What’s that got to do with you?”

“Nothing, but praying to a goddess then shopping for dresses? Makes me wonder if the goddess moved into your house. No way~ Or… did you get turned into a pretty girl~?”

Did she have cheats? Or cameras in his house? This was unfair!

But Flo wasn’t about to admit anything. Little Pink Chicken was probably just teasing.

“Your imagination’s wild, Little Pink Chicken. Shame you’re not writing novels.”

Little Pink Chicken was Flo’s nickname for Ifrora. Phoenixes were birds, chickens were birds, and with her cherry-pink hair, what else but Little Pink Chicken?

Pointy Ears was her retort for him.

Flo believed their feud ran deep. He despised this seemingly harmless but utterly vile woman.

Whenever he got close to a girl, within days, those potential partners were inevitably swayed by this phoenix girl, turning into her loyal “puppies.”

A heartbreaker wasn’t scary, but a relentless one was terrifying!

This Little Pink Chicken deliberately ruined his romantic prospects and had a rotten personality.

Flo was at his wit’s end!

Then, Ifrora whispered something that made his face flush again…