Transmigrated As A Stepdad In A Fantasy Doujin World

Chapter 3: 3. Pathetic Porter

Breakfast continued in quiet tension.

Kael turned his head toward Seraphine. The petite vampire sat straight in her chair silver-white hair falling over one shoulder.

Crimson eyes flicked to him once then away as if the sight of him annoyed her.

"Seraphine," he said. "How have things been with you these days?"

She set her fork down with a soft clink. The sharp tongue came out without hesitation.

"The same as always Father. You sleep. Mother runs the house. I keep the weaker ones from doing anything stupid. Nothing changes. You are still the weakest person at this table. A warrior class who has never ranked past the middle. If a real fight came to Grayhollow you would be the first one cut down."

Her voice stayed cool and cutting. No heat. Just pure disdain.

"I do not know why Mother keeps you. Looks alone do not stop a blade."

Kael met her crimson gaze without flinching.

’She loathes the original me for being weak. Good. That will make the moment I claim her even better.’

He gave a small smile.

"Rankings can change."

Seraphine scoffed under her breath and returned to her food as if he was no longer worth the air.

Kael let the silence settle for a moment then shifted his attention to the fifth daughter.

She sat two seats down head lowered over her plate. Her hair was split cleanly down the middle.

The left side pure white the right side pure black. Both sides fell in soft waves past her shoulders.

She ate slowly small careful bites never lifting her eyes. Timid as always.

The illusion Isolde kept around her only when she’s outside of the house. In the house the illusion wear off showing her real two-colored hair indicating the forbidden race in which she belongs to.

She did not speak. She never did at the table unless forced. Every movement stayed small as if she wanted to take up less space.

Kael watched her for several heartbeats then spoke.

"And you? How have you been?"

The fifth daughter froze. Her fork hovered above the plate.

White and black hair shifted slightly as she kept her head down. A soft almost inaudible answer came after a long pause.

"...Fine."

Nothing more. She returned to her slow careful eating as if the single word had cost her too much.

Isolde’s violet eyes moved between them her soft smile never fading.

"Seraphine be kinder to your father. He works hard in his own way."

Seraphine did not look up.

"Hard work means nothing if the result is still weak."

Kael leaned back slightly blond hair falling across his brow.

The lean muscle of his warrior-class body stayed relaxed under the black shirt. Six abs remained faintly visible when the fabric shifted.

He turned his attention to Isolde.

"When is the next raid leaving from this town? And for how many days will you be gone?"

Isolde’s violet eyes curved with mild amusement. She set her cup down gracefully.

"Three days from now. The border scouts reported demon movement near the eastern ridge. The town is sending a mixed group of warriors and mages. I will join them as support. It should take five days at most. Maybe six if the fighting stretches."

Seraphine’s head snapped up. Crimson eyes lit with sudden interest.

"I am going with you."

Isolde’s smile stayed soft but her voice turned firm.

"No. You stay here and protect your father and your sister."

Seraphine’s expression twisted. She looked from Kael to the fifth daughter with open disgust.

The white-and-black-haired girl kept her head down as if trying to disappear into her plate.

"Protect them?" Seraphine’s voice dripped venom.

"One is too weak to protect himself and the other barely speaks. You would rather leave me babysitting than let me fight?"

Isolde did not bend.

"You will stay. That is final."

Seraphine shoved her chair back.

The legs scraped hard against the floor. She shot one last look of pure loathing at both Kael and the fifth daughter then turned and walked out of the dining room with sharp angry steps.

The door to the hallway slammed behind her.

Silence settled over the table.

The fifth daughter still had not lifted her head. White and black hair framed her lowered face as she continued her slow quiet eating.

Kael finished the last of his bread and stood.

"I am heading out. Work does not wait."

Isolde gave him that soft knowing smile.

"Be careful husband. Come home before dark."

He nodded once and left the dining room. The front door closed behind him with a quiet click.

Outside the morning air was cool and clean. Grayhollow spread before him in neat cobbled roads and modest two-story houses.

Different races moved along the streets. Humans in plain work clothes.

A few beastkin with animal ears and tails. An elf in travel robes.

A pair of horned demon-bloods keeping their heads low under hoods.

Shops lined both sides of the main road. A bakery with open windows. A weapon stall displaying mid-grade steel.

A general goods store with crates stacked outside. Everything looked average. Neither poor nor rich.

Just another border town trying to survive the long war between humans and demons.

The academy the other three daughters attended sat far from here in the central city of the Aetherion Empire.

Only the strongest and wealthiest families sent their children there. Grayhollow was nowhere near that level.

Kael’s work was as ordinary as the town itself. Porter work. Carrying packs crates and supplies for adventuring teams and merchants.

His warrior-class body with its lean muscle and six abs was built for exactly that kind of labor.

Strong enough to haul heavy loads for hours. Not strong enough to earn real respect.

He walked the neat road toward the local guild hall.

The building stood two stories tall with a wooden sign hanging above the door. Inside the air smelled of sweat ink and cheap ale.

A few early teams checked boards or argued over contracts.

Kael stepped up to the counter.

The clerk was a brown-haired milf in her late thirties.

Soft mature features and a full figure that the simple guild uniform could not hide.

Large heavy breasts strained against the fabric of her blouse the deep cleavage impossible to ignore.

From the original Kael’s memories he knew she was the wife of the guild head. They had one daughter a knight currently serving in the central city of the Aetherion Empire.

Her eyes lit up when she saw him. A warm friendly smile spread across her face.

"Kael. Morning. You are early today."

She leaned forward slightly the heavy swell of her bust pressing against the counter as she spoke like an old friend.

"I was wondering when you would show up. Got something that might suit you. The Crimson Path team put in a request. They need a porter to carry their gear into the dungeon east of town. Standard load. Pay is a bit better than the usual short runs. You interested?"

Kael’s eyes dropped for a brief moment to the deep cleavage before he answered.

"I will take it."

She wrote the details on a slip and slid it across the counter still smiling.

"They are waiting near the east gate. Try not to drop anything this time."

Kael took the slip and stepped back outside.

As he walked toward the east gate his thoughts turned bitter.

’Porter work. Carrying bags for people stronger than me. This is the life the original body lived. Pathetic.’

He called out in his mind.

’Lysara. Goddess of Lust. What about the free rewards of transmigration? Every story gives something for free at the start.’

The system interface flickered. A new window opened in crimson light.

[Surprise Gift Available]

[Open?]

Kael focused on it.

[Surprise Gift Opened]

[Skill Acquired: Pheromone Skill (Lv.1)]

[Effect: Passively releases subtle pheromones that can arouse women in your presence if their mental resistance is not strong enough. Higher levels increase range intensity and control.]

A slow smile tugged at his lips.

’Useful. Very useful.’

He continued walking the neat cobbled road toward the east gate the new skill settling quietly into his body.

Around him the town moved at its usual pace. Merchants called out prices.

A pair of beastkin argued over a crate. An armored warrior of mid rank strode past with a sword at his hip.

Kael’s mind drifted to the structure of this world.

’Every occupation is ranked the same way. Mage. Knight. Paladin. Warrior. Assassin. Dark Mage. Priest. All of them. Novice at the bottom. Then Apprentice. Intermediate. Advanced. Expert. Master. Grandmaster. And the rare ones who climb higher still. Rank decides everything. Pay. Respect. Who lives and who dies on the border. The original Kael never rose past Intermediate Warrior. That is why Seraphine looks at me like dirt. That is why I haul other people’s bags into dungeons.’

He glanced at the slip in his hand.

’Crimson Path. A dungeon run. Still porter work. But three days from now Isolde leaves. The house will be quieter. And this new skill is already waiting.’

The east gate came into view.

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