Chapter 1
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“So, you want to confirm what the adventurers like?”
Caladium asked as if it was ridiculous.
Adelaide nodded her head lightly.
“Is it too difficult? The three of us are humanoid demons. It should be easy as long as we hide our powers!”
[T/N: Since some demons do not have ‘human’ forms: Skeletons, Dullahans]
‘‘It’s probably because you’re weak.’
Caladium swallowed his words.
It was rather difficult for him as he has a lot to hide. It was grueling to hide it since it takes a lot of effort just so that he doesn’t get caught by a high ranking adventurer.
“It makes sense.”
After fiddling with his chin for a moment, Lisianthus quickly changed his stance and agreed with Adelaide.
Adelaide welcomed the change.
“Really? I’m glad Lisian understands. Caladi, you can go back if you don’t like it.”
Caladium’s face wrinkled again.
He pondered for a moment. Which was more annoying: the shame of pretending to be human or the filthy feeling of having to go back to Greenville alone, leaving the two of them behind?
“We’ll go back on our own.”
And as soon as Adelaide had finished speaking, he decided.
“I will go too.”
He was tired of hearing the word ‘we’. Caladium gritted his teeth.
***
Humans took over a part of Mediar as a result of negotiations that took place a long time ago.
More than 500 years ago, the previous Demon King handed over a portion of Mediar to the humans’ representative, promising peace between humans and demons.
Many demons were shocked by this and opposed his decision. Even more so because the Demon King had continued his tyrannical reign until then. Inevitably, a revolt broke out, and the Demon King was replaced.
However, even after the Demon King was brought down, the Demon King is the Demon King after all, and a treaty is a treaty. It was difficult to immediately reverse the promises made by the previous Demon King. Moreover, too much time had already passed before they could attempt to take Mediar back.
So Mediar, which was the closest to the human world, became less and less magical as humans came in and out more often.
Originally, among humans, the ability to enter the Demon Realm was limited to a few. They were adventurers who had a special soul, strong enough to withstand Demon Magic. However, after it was opened, Mediar was almost void of magic that even non-adventurers could enter.
Soon, many humans came to the Demon Realm and settled down. It was because trading with adventurers, who were about to attack the dungeons, made them quite a bit of money.
Thus, humans completely took over a part of the Demon Realm.
And currently.
This place, which was called the Human Zone, became too bright and lively for the Demon Realm.
There were banners welcoming the adventurers hung on the streets and plants brought from the Human Realm took root on the black terrain unique to the Demon Realm. It was a dazzling atmosphere. Every street was lined with shops selling various things, and the whole street was full of adventurers and other humans.
Adelaide and her party were casually walking among the crowd. And one of them was particularly excited…
“Adela, Adela! Buy me that!”
It was Caladium, who, up until a while ago, frowned at the fact that it hurt his pride to pretend to be human.
“Stop it and follow along, firebird.”
Lisianthus coldly scolded him. However, even though he said that, his face somehow resembled the other demon. His golden eyes sparkled with a strange excitement.
Both of them were initially against it so it was fascinating to see. Adelaide glanced at them with the eyes of a mother looking at her immature sons, then urged them to walk again. She said it wasn’t a big deal and that they should follow her, but there’s nothing good about staying in the Human Realm for a long time.
Lisianthus, who looked away for a moment, quickly followed.
“Where are you going?”
“We’ll get there soon. Hang on. Let me pass!”
Adelaide dug into the line of humans without observing manners. Adelaide and the human who collided with her shoulder looked down at her in anger. But when he saw the adventurer outfit she was wearing, he gave way.
“If we turn to that corner, we will find the most popular shop!”
Adelaide looked behind her, but she soon frowned. It was because she found a missing child in the distance.
“Hey, Adela! Where did you go?”
It was Caladium that got lost and was circling around humans.
He was walking, relying only on his senses, and was suppressing the power he emits as much as possible. Since Mediar’s magic was too light and his strength was weakened, his level of sense was also far lower than usual because he had to hide his powers.
A little while ago, Adelaide and Lisianthus had made a small hole in the spot in front of his eyes, but it was so small that it was difficult to find Adelaide once he lost sight of her.
“Let’s just leave him.”
Lisianthus suggested then smiled broadly. Adelaide almost nodded her head involuntarily, realizing how pretty he was even though his eyes were also covered with a cloth and only his mouth was visible.
“Sigh. Still, I’m his Master.”
Adelaide walked towards the lost child, clicking her tongue.
As she got closer, Caladium sniffed, then smelled her.
“It smells like Adela? Is she this way?”
‘I thought he was a bird, but apparently he was a dog.’
Adelaide quickly grabbed Caladium’s hand.
“Caladi, come with me.”
If she left him as is, he’ll complain about her being mean again. This was what Adelaide predicted. But contrary to her expectations, Caladium quietly followed along. She turned around, wondering if he was sulking, then saw his face peach-colored under the robe.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“What are you, without fear, grabbing a man’s hand…!”
‘Just because of that? Didn’t we kiss too?’
Adelaide didn’t want to speak, so she bit her lip. If she spoke again, that shy bastard would definitely go crazy again.
“Okay, I’ll let go.”
“Wait!”
Just as she was about to let go of his hand, Caladium hurriedly caught her. With both hands, very desperately.
Feeling embarrassed, Caladium lowered one hand. But he did not let go of her other hand that was holding him.
“Didn’t you want me to let go?”
“When did I say that! Tch… Just keep holding me. I’ll shut up.”
“Deal.”
Just giving Caladium one hand and he will stay quiet? There was nothing better than this. Adelaide was excited and clasped her hands. Then his face’s color went from peach to plum.
Returning to where Lisianthus had been, she asked, her eyes blinking.
“What happened? Why does Lisian look like that again?”
Lisianthus was smiling as usual. However, as the black cloth was lifted by the wind, there was no smile in the eyes that were briefly revealed.
He answered in a low voice.
“I was worried.”
“About what?”
“Dirty things might get on Master’s clean hands.”
‘Dirty?’ Adelaide tilted her head.
He looks like a demon who could kill with just his eyes. Caladium thought.
Even Caladium knew that the sarcastic remarks were directed at him. But this time he didn’t feel bad at all.
‘Anyway, I’m holding hands with Adela, so do I need to feel bad?’
Caladium smiled. For some reason, he felt like he won a fight against Lisianthus.
Between the piercing exchange of glances that continued throughout the walk, Adelaide calmly turned to the corner. A large store immediately came into view. Just like she said, it was a very large and popular store.
“How did you know about this place?”
Lisianthus, who was done with the staring contest, asked with a doubtful face.
“Well, I’ve been here before.”
“Ah, when you went out to eat the adventurers’ energy?… F*cking hell, thinking about it again is giving me goosebumps.”
Caladium fiercely cursed. The adventurer who rode on top of Adelaide came to mind. He remembered the face of the adventurer and vowed to kill him if ever he saw him again.
Adelaide, meanwhile, replaced her answer with a smile, then entered the store. Naturally, she let go of Caladium. Caladium’s eyes, which was burning with revenge, dimmed like a dog that lost its owner.
Contrary to Lisianthus’ guess that they sold human goods, the shop was filled with all sorts of junk from the Demon Realm.
The types varied. Grass that can only be found in dungeons, ore from distant areas, monster skin, demon heart, etc. These were items used to make potions or to strengthen the equipment of adventurers.
The group looked around the items in the store. Except for some races, demons have a rare concept of kin, and since dying and killing each other was a daily routine, seeing something like a heart was not very exciting. Adelaide, who felt queasy, only frowned a few times.
“Hey. What kind of things are selling well these days?”
When Adelaide asked, the nearest employee turned to her with a sour face. However, as he checked her face and repeatedly scanned her body, he rushed to her and left his customer with another staff.
“You’re an adventurer that I’ve never seen before! Right, what’s popular? Let’s see…”
The staff pretended to be thinking and stared. It was so he could look at her amazing appearance again.
However, it was not her that he saw, but two men. Two men, who seemed to be adventurers just by looking at their size, were standing in front of her as if they were expecting something. Even though they both had their faces covered, the aura that can be felt from them was unusual.
The employee quickly rolled his eyes and opened his mouth, pretending to be a sincere worker.
“Bricaber leaves always sell well! It’s expensive too.”
Bricaber is a tree that only grows in B-Class dungeons. A demon like Adelaide, had never seen it before either.
“And. Dungeon grass.”
Dungeon grass refers to various plants that grow in dungeons. Since each dungeon is different, there are many rare things that grow in them, so the demand is high. However, in order to grow dungeon grass, you must reach at least a C-Class. Greenville Dungeon still had a long way to go.
“Well, Pingping’s slime is fine too. It doesn’t sell at a high price, but it’s in high demand.”
Pingping is a monster that lives only in Dathanos. Adelaide shook her head slightly.
“Anything else?”
“Again? Hmm… Oh, the Skeletons’ skulls are pretty good too.”
‘We can’t sell our precious Skeletons’ skulls.’
She shook her head again.
The staff’s eyes darkened as he was getting annoyed.
“I’m so busy!” He muttered in a low voice, crossed his arms and continued.
“Well. Serpium ore is also in constant demand. Among the low level dungeons, they are usable. It is difficult to find.”
Serpium ore.
Although it does not appear in Adelaide’s dungeon, it was a common ore in Kronatan. Considering that they are difficult to obtain, it seems that not many can be found in other areas.
‘This is it!’
A faint smile crept across Adelaide’s lips. The employee who saw her smile asked.
“So, are you going to sell? Or are you going to buy it?”
When he remembered her figure, he did not forget to sneak a peek at her body again. Adelaide, who couldn’t help but feel the gaze, replied sweetly.
“No, I was just curious!”
“Let’s go boys!” She added in a bright voice. Then she immediately left the store.
“You-!”
The staff stared blankly at her back as she left and then yelled. But as soon as he spoke that one syllable, he fell forward. It was because of a huge shock to the back of his head and back.
“Aaa-Ackk!”
“Oh my gosh, Walter! What’s wrong!”
Another employee, startled by the sound, hurriedly approached him and checked his condition.
‘Oh my, the back of the head was crushed! The back was broken too!’
The hoarse voice echoed behind the two men as they left the store.