Surviving as the Heavenly Demon’s Concubine - Chapter 1

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

If you transfer schools frequently from a young age, you develop special abilities.

“Hello. Nice to meet you. I am….”

The ability to find the nearest convenience store even when dropped into a completely unfamiliar neighborhood.

The ability to open your textbook without panicking when suddenly faced with unfamiliar lesson material.

The ability to barge into a group where cliques are already established and bring up favorite idol stories.

“I’m Dang Ri-seo from Sichuan. Nice to meet you.”

These abilities were very useful in various situations,

especially when I had to adapt to new environments.

“I want to work hard together with everyone to become an excellent demon cultist.”

But there’s a limit to everything.

Dying in an unfortunate accident and then being forcibly reincarnated into a martial arts fantasy world.

And as if that wasn’t enough, entering the Demonic Sect as a concubine of the Heavenly Demon was a bit much.

“Please take care of me from now on.”

Nevertheless, as a professional transfer student, genius of adaptation, and demon of relocation who realized there was no choice, I resolved to overcome this nightmarish environment and live through it just fine.

It’s a world where people live. One place is much like another, after all!

* * *

The world Dang Ri-seo was born into was a rootless martial arts worldview where the Demonic Sect had won.

How rootless was it? Even the country’s name was some unheard-of place called Jian Kingdom.

I don’t know which era’s rebel faction achieved victory to establish such a country, but it was a world that had diverged from the history I originally knew.

Though all the knowledge I originally knew (including the laws of physics) had become worthless scraps of paper, Riser didn’t despair.

Because she was born into a pretty decent family.

The ruler of Sichuan, the Land of Abundance. The daughter of the Head of the Household of the Dang Family of Sichuan.

Yes, that wealthy family that uses poison.

Since ancient times, Sichuan has been a fertile region with beautiful mountains and waters, and also far from the central government.

As a Martial Arts Sect that handled maintaining order in this area, operating merchant groups, and even presiding over large and small trials, the Dang Family of Sichuan was an influential family that truly reigned like kings of Sichuan.

Being born as the Head of the Household’s daughter in such a family was no different from being a princess of a small country—the best of fortunes.

For someone who reincarnated into another world without preparation, it could be said to be quite a decent start.

…Though the Head of the Household had four wives and Mother was the Fourth Wife.

And while the First, Second, and Third Wives were all daughters from families with money, power, or prestige, Mother was originally a servant in charge of laundry.

But what did that matter?

What’s so good about getting caught up in succession struggles and having your life endangered?

Rather, stepping back to live comfortably with a full belly and warm back, then meeting a suitable marriage partner for a peaceful wedding—wouldn’t that be the wholesome happiness a noble family’s daughter born in this era should pursue?

“The lady has passed away.”

“What? So suddenly?”

Six-year-old Dang Ri-seo, who had been having fun classifying poisonous mushrooms, was so startled she dropped her reagent.

The reagent that spilled from the small porcelain bottle seeped into the soil, bubbling up with nauseating stench as black smoke rose.

‘Which one among the First, Second, or Third Wife could it be?’

Even though a perfectly healthy person had died suddenly overnight, there was no investigation at the family level.

That meant it was an intentional murder involving someone high up.

In such a situation, finding and punishing the culprit was impossible, and poking around here and there would only result in Riser herself disappearing without a trace, so keeping quiet despite the injustice was the best option.

“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to stay in this room from now on.”

And naturally, her treatment worsened.

The days of a full belly and warm back were over, and a cold, desolate room welcomed Riser.

Even so, she was direct family of the Head of the Household, so this treatment seemed too harsh, but with the First, Second, and Third Wives watching with fierce eyes, there was no choice.

‘Why don’t they fight among themselves instead of hunting me down like a rat?’

Originally, wasn’t this the kind of thing powerful whales should settle among themselves, while shrimp like me just had to be careful not to get our backs broken?

It was a situation that was hard to understand, but Riser still didn’t despair.

In an era where people die in droves when famine strikes once, what more could you ask for than not having to starve?

At this point, just eating well would be a successful life.

—No sooner had she thought this than problems arose with her meals too.

“Hey, there’s poison in the vegetables.”

“Eek! I’ve committed a mortal sin!”

“? It’s not that serious. From now on, soak them overnight in water mixed with ash from burned bamboo or mulberry leaves to remove the poison before cooking.”

Good grief. To assign someone without even basic cooking knowledge as a personal servant.

The Dang Family of Sichuan’s poor treatment of their youngest daughter who lost her mother at a young age was beyond imagination.

Though Riser grumbled about the hassle, she poked at the side dishes with silver chopsticks and ate her fill three times a day without fail.

‘From the atmosphere, it looks like I’ll be kicked out before long, so I should prepare for independence in advance.’

Fortunately, she had received something called body transformation a year before Mother passed away.

It was a kind of constitution improvement technique created by Martial Arts Sects to help young children learn martial arts more easily. After receiving this, internal energy accumulates faster, so even those not born with martial bones can become reasonably useful martial artists.

‘It was truly a horrible experience.’

To compare, it was similar to the pain of having all four wisdom teeth extracted at once.

Originally, you’re supposed to receive it as a newborn. Because Mother had no power, we were pushed around and I received it late, leaving me with nothing but trauma.

Looking back, it doesn’t seem like a coincidence that Mother passed away exactly one year after I received the body transformation… Anyway.

‘Since I received the body transformation, if I train diligently, I won’t have to get beaten up on the main street in broad daylight. Opening a pharmacy under the Dang Family of Sichuan name would be best, but that would probably be difficult to get permission for.’

While planning her future like this and steadfastly spending her motherless adolescence, one day came.

“Hey! Dang Ri-seo!”

A girl calling Riser with a sharp voice.

It was Dang Solin, the Third Wife’s daughter, who demanded to be treated as an older sister despite being born only 4 months earlier.

“Dang Solin. What brings you to Hanjeong Hall?”

“You, again! Can’t you call me sister!”

Dang Solin was a bit bratty but transparent inside and out, making her a family member Riser quite liked.

Considering that the average Dang family personality was to smile in front of you then throw daggers when you turned around, Dang Solin was on the cute side.

“Fine. Sister Solin. What brings you to Hanjeong Hall? You used to never come near, saying ghosts might come out of the well.”

Dang Solin flinched.

“Th-that was only when I was little! I’m not scared at all now.”

“Really? Want to sleep over at Hanjeong Hall tonight?”

“Huh?!?!”

Look at that flustered expression and wildly shaking eyes.

Dang Solin fidgeted restlessly, worrying about how to decline the invitation without looking like a coward, then suddenly her face brightened. She realized she didn’t need to make excuses.

“Sorry, but I can’t. We have guests from Cheonryeon Mountain.”

“From Cheonryeon Mountain?”

Riser stroked her chin and tilted her head.

‘Usually when they say guests came from Cheonryeon Mountain, it means people from the Demonic Sect came.’

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————