As I take the first step back on the street and get first mud stains on my too pure for this world dress, I'm beginning to regret my choice. The amount of looks I'm getting has at least tripled too. Luckily no-one tries to talk to me. Maybe these clothes make me look too high class. Who knows, this town might have draconic rules like 'nobles can have you executed if you bother them, no exceptions'.

Anyway, I should find more about this world. But the problem is, I don't think it's good idea to ask questions that scream I'm not from this world. That could go south in all sorts of ways. Especially if they realize I came here straight from hell.

If this were a game, visiting a tavern would be the way to gather information covertly. But being here in flesh, I cringe at the very thought. Even normally I'd find places like that pointless, but as I am now... I'll pass on surrounding myself with drunk barbarians, thank you. I don't recall seeing any alcohol related businesses in this town so far though. What's that about, shouldn't barbarians and ale go together like two things that go together very well?

"It's fate that we have met again!"

I suddenly cringe while turning around to confront the owner of this nasal voice. As I feared, it's the same amorous youth who stalked me earlier. And this time the look he has isn't just that of some cheesy flirting, no, he's positively aroused to see me. Have I been releasing some kind of succubus pheromones without my knowing? Where's the off switch?

Before I can tell him to not play with fate, he grabs my arms. I cringe even harder than before. Don't touch me! Nobody touches me!

"May I say, you look absolutely ravishing in that dress."

'Ravishing'? Choice of words...! I waver between feeling sick and angry as he keeps pawing my arms with his clammy hands, and anger wins. He looks rather scrawny, so I put all my strength into a vague idea of how a judo throw would go.

Its execution would have made a martial artist cry. I clumsily grab his grabby hands and attempt to toss him. Instead of just making him stagger and step back - as I realistically expected this would end up - he flies several metres with all the grace of a sack of potatoes before crashing through a window. Soon after curses and his whimpering begin reverberating from the house. I look at my handiwork astonished for a split second and then beat a hasty retreat.

After yet another dash I stop to look back at the encounter. I calmly note that since I'm now look like I regularly guest star in wet dreams, it shouldn't be a surprise some people would get touchy feely. But I can't just roll with it. My limits for skin contact are overloaded by anything more than a handshake, and I honestly didn't think of the possibility before. And this time it was relatively mild... Good news however is that I seem to be perfectly capable of defending myself, at least from invasions of privacy, which is very reassuring. Though I have this gnawing feeling I broke more than one law of physics with that throw.

I'm currently at the edge of town, and as I carefully tip around worst puddles, I can see a circle of stones outside the wall. Does this indicate a druidic religion perhaps? Or is it just a remnant from past? If it's druids, I hope they are more like the dopey nature loving kind than the savage 'let's offer human sacrifices while dancing around naked' kind.

It does look well cared for in any case. The simplicity of buildings and clothing styles, lack of alcohol, and visibility of potentially religious monuments... Could this culture be influenced by some kind of strict religion? If that is the case, they might be even more hostile to demon presence than I thought. That would also mean that mage took a great risk by summoning me. Maybe presence of a succubus - even a disguised one - had such an effect exactly because of all their repressed urges? Yep, I think I will head out of this town as soon as possible.

As I'm about to pass the gate on the palisade wall, a red light flashes from sides. Whatever it is, it can't be anything good. The pair of guards, who had been absentmindedly leaning on the walls on either side, awaken from their boredom and approach me. Was this a magical anti-theft alarm system? But I didn't steal anything yet. I had permission from the stupefied wizard, it's not stealing.

"(Halfwid, she triggered the demon stones!)"

"(But she's leaving the town, not entering it, Fulldum.)"

"(So what?)"

"(They told us not to let demons in, but what are we supposed to do if they are leaving? It's not like we want to force them stay.)"

"(That's... Never mind, let's just improvise.)"

Their names aren't really Halfwid and Fulldum, but since I forgot what they actually were, I'm dubbing more appropriate ones.

"Hoi, lady, are you a demon?"

"No."

"(Fulldum, she says she's not a demon, but she's lying, isn't she? Let's kill her.)"

"(But we can't take on a demon! Let's stall for time and--)"

Are you aware I can hear you? I think they think they are discreet, but I can clearly hear everything. Are they really stupidly loud, or do I have demonic super senses too? In any case, you aren't even sure I'm a demon and you are already about to execute me? Surely your demon alarm does mistakes. What will you do if it triggers when you yourself are passing through? Execute yourself?

Of course, it was dead on this time. But that doesn't mean I'll just stand here and take it. Quickly and careful to avoid being noticed I pick a random stone and then show it to the guards. This is a cursed pebble that makes stupid guards be even more stupid.

"I have this cursed stone. Mayhaps it triggered the alarm?"

"Cursed?!"

Both guards hastily take a step back. I guess I can't fault them for being superstitious when there are outlandish things like magic and demons around too.

"I was taking it to be purified."

"So that's what this was!"

"The lady is a real saint. (And you were going to kill her, Halfwid. Shame on you.)"

As I'm just about to get outside, an older man in an expensive looking scale mail and beard sporting golden rings approaches. If he were shorter, I'd say he's a dwarf, but he's as long as he's stout. And I spot a sickle hanging from his belt. So druids it is then. He curtly addressed the guards.

"What is this?"

"Honored one, this lady was bringing a cursed stone to be cleansed."

"Are you stupid? That's just a pebble."

Tch. This man is trouble, he could tell with just a look. Even if he can't ascertain me as a demon right here, having deceived the guards after triggering the alarm is more than enough of a damning situation. There's no chance to talk myself out of this.

As he turns to inspect me, I grab sword from Halfwid and slash at the rope holding open the gate above. I was planning to follow through by slipping out while the gate crashes down behind me. I almost succeed, except the dull pig sticker doesn't cut through the thick rope. Come on, do I need to saw through it?

"DON'T JUST STAND THERE, KILL THE DEMON!"

The druid sprints at me entirely too fast for his age as the rope finally snaps. Both I and the springy old druid make it outside as the gate falls, but Halfwid becomes half-Halfwid as the gate falls on him. Ouch. I don't think those organs were meant to ever see the light of day.

For a moment I feel I've crossed some line here. But that quickly fades when I remember his immediate reaction was to kill me just to be sure. Even though his suspicion was correct, I was just minding my business so killing me is just too much. Besides, you should have left stunts like this to us pros. Yep, clearly not my fault.

My conclusion clearly isn't agreed upon by the druid, whose eyes seem to flash with anger as he makes a pair cuts at me with his sickle. Cut mistletoe, not me! I'm not sure how durable succubi are, so I opted for an overt dodge, almost tripping myself. Eeesh. Even then he only misses barely.

Right now I'm regretting not staying for a demon prep course. Do I even have some innate abilities like charm or growing combat-claws? Not knowing the level of danger I take a showy stance I remember from a movie using the blunt old sword. I accidentally add an inviting gesture that was in the same scene. Please don't attack me with all you've got, I don't know what I'm doing.

The iron druid is clearly more wary now. Who needs skills when you are lucky, right? As I consider that my high success rate with bluffs and persuasion are probably result of the succubus charm rather than any brilliance from my part, he begins chanting. Ugh, are roots going to burst from the ground now and lock around me? I don't want that kind of event. Absolutely no. I've seen enough he--

"...BANISHMENT!"