In 2032, our world changed.
Ancient Gods, blazing like the sun, are approaching Earth.
Terrifying Monsters rampage along the coasts, mysterious beings hide among human society.
Countless terrifying Mysteries are invading human life.
The Apocalypse is upon us!
Blue Star stands on the brink.
And at this very moment, you are…
“Ton ton ton! Ton ton ton!”
On a dark street, a young man with golden hair, dressed in a business suit, gulped down liquor from a blue bottle.
He staggered along, reeking of alcohol.
His mind was foggy, and when he couldn’t walk anymore, he slumped by the roadside.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a Bankbook. Opening it, he saw an amount large enough to let him live in luxury for a lifetime, even if he broke both legs.
“Snnff~”
But staring at this sum—enough to make anyone burst out laughing—the golden-haired youth suddenly sniffled, tears streaming down, a strong man weeping.
A real man doesn’t shed tears easily.
Only because he had just attended his Father’s funeral.
“You’ve brought shame to this family! I’m a Demon Hunter, your Older Brother is a Demon Hunter, but you just had to become a Demon? Get out! Never come back!”
He and his Father had argued all their lives, always on opposite sides.
He’d run away from home at fifteen, hating his Father back then.
But when his Father fell ill and was hospitalized, it was still up to him to return and help.
“I don’t want your filthy money.”
“Don’t want my money? Who do you think paid for your stay at the Elderly Care Home? Who do you think gave you a fat allowance every month?”
“Stop pretending. You wish I was dead. Get out, I don’t want to see you.”
But his Father still never showed him a kind face.
He was a stubborn, prideful, sharp-tongued, selfish old man.
Not long after, his Father passed away.
At the funeral, nearly all the Demon Hunters in the city came to pay their respects.
Because of his sensitive identity, he didn’t attend the ceremony, only hiding backstage, bewildered.
How could his cranky old man command so much respect?
After the funeral, his taciturn Older Brother handed him their Father’s belongings.
Those belongings were the Bankbook now in his hand.
And a Government Certified Harmless Demon Legal ID Card.
“Father never touched your money. He was afraid you’d blow it all, so he saved it for you. Now, I’m giving it all back.”
“Father spent his life fighting for you, applying for that Legal ID Card until it was finally issued.”
“From now on, live properly. Don’t hang around those filthy places anymore.”
“And quit smoking and drinking.”
That was probably the longest thing he’d ever heard his cold-faced Older Brother say.
After speaking, his Older Brother left, never contacting him again.
Oh, right! I forgot to introduce myself.
I am Xu Bei, more or less the protagonist of this story.
I’m a bartender at an Underground Bar on Meteor Street.
But my bartending skills are just average—I make a living off my looks and conversation.
Almost all my customers are women.
Some are rich ladies who frequent the bar. They like to order two drinks—one for themselves, one for me.
A real bartender wouldn’t accept that, but I’m not a real bartender.
I only care about the money. I get paid for two drinks and enjoy one myself. Most nights, I live in a haze of drunken pleasure.
But after my Father’s funeral today, I didn’t feel like going to work.
“Urgh!”
Xu Bei suddenly vomited, his mind going blank. The bottle slipped from his hand as he collapsed to the ground.
Who knows how much time passed?
He finally came to, but his head throbbed painfully—a hangover for sure.
Was it just a hangover?
He’d spent the whole night lying in the street, and nothing strange had happened?
“Are you alright, mister?”
A gentle voice sounded in Xu Bei’s ear.
He turned his head. Not only was there no Monster, but at his bedside sat a pure and lovely High School Girl.
Well, that was a bit strange in itself.
He took a closer look at the girl.
Long black hair, straight bangs, sailor uniform, long skirt, black-rimmed glasses, no accessories—she looked plain and a bit old-fashioned.
But her young face was dignified and elegant, and she was tall for her age, giving her an unexpected air of authority.
Anyway, as long as a girl is pretty enough, even a garbage bag looks good on her.
The High School Girl kept a safe distance, not daring to get too close, but still asked gently, “Are you feeling unwell, mister?”
“……”
Xu Bei glanced around.
A tiny room, just a few square meters.
He was lying on a sky-blue bed. Next to him were a desk, a chair, a small dining table, a bookshelf, and a wardrobe.
Besides these simple furnishings, there was a drawing board and several packs of sketch paper.
Five pen holders sat on the desk, filled with pencils, charcoal, erasers, and a pile of sketchbooks.
The walls were covered with sketches—apples, pears, jars—basic still-life drawings.
A slightly unusual room, but nothing too odd.
“Say something, mister! You’re scaring me,” the High School Girl said, a bit frightened, fingers interlaced and shrinking back.
“I’m fine, just a hangover headache,” Xu Bei replied, still lying on the High School Girl’s bed.
“Why did you faint on the street? What happened?” The High School Girl relaxed a bit when she heard he could talk.
“Just got drunk,” Xu Bei said.
“Drunk? Don’t you know the streets are dangerous at night?” the High School Girl exclaimed.
“And taking a strange man home is dangerous too. Especially someone passed out on the roadside—they might not even be human, could be a trap,” Xu Bei said.
“I saw your long hair… I thought you were a woman,” the High School Girl said awkwardly.
“Didn’t you see my suit? And women passed out on the street are even scarier. Haven’t you heard Urban Legends? Female Ghosts and such,” Xu Bei asked.
“Women can wear suits too,” the High School Girl retorted.
“That’s true,” Xu Bei agreed.
“So, mister, what are you going to do next? Should I help you contact your family? Where do you live?” the High School Girl asked.
“I just attended my Father’s funeral. I have nowhere to go,” Xu Bei said with a bitter smile.
“Then… do you want to stay here for a while?” The High School Girl fidgeted, shyly asking in a small voice.
“Hm?” Xu Bei perked up, sitting up to take a proper look at the girl.
She was pretty even without makeup, but honestly, she looked too plain—like a poor country bumpkin.
Aside from her looks, he knew nothing about her. She seemed like an Art Student.
He could guess what was on this young girl’s mind.
Why would a High School Girl let a strange man stay in her room?
Simple! Because I’m handsome!
I make big money off my looks, but only from rich ladies—specifically, from their drink money. I never scam anyone.
This High School Girl didn’t even look like a city girl, more like a country bumpkin.
I’m a yellow-haired guy with principles—I never take money from poor women.
And I never sponge off others!
Girl, what do you take a man’s dignity for?
“Well, thank you for taking me in,” Xu Bei said, accepting her offer.
Sadly, what you think and what you actually do are often very different.
He continued to lounge on the girl’s bed, sleeping in.