Only a few seconds passed within the crimson realm before we stepped out onto a wide expanse of fields. Tilled soil surrounded us as small green sprouts poked out of the earth. Only a few feet away sat a cobbled road. Off in the distance, a massive stone wall hemmed in some buildings that rested at the foot of a mountain. A thin line of magma dribbled down the side as the mountain growled like a slumbering beast.
The demons that were working the soil froze and watched us. Our sudden appearance had the same reaction as pulling a gun out at a Renaissance Fair. However, our lack of aggression made them quickly forget about us and return to their own duties.
“There is a farmer caste here?” Yoshitsune asked with mild surprise.
“They grow ingredients and sell it in the Shop,” Kowal answered as he led us onto the stone road. “If they give a portion of their sales to the leaders of Brunswick, they gain protection from the city’s forces. There is also a Sin-got mine closer to the volcano that operates much the same. You’ll find that it’s a civilized place compared to the barbarism you’ve been living in.”
“So, why are we all the way out here?” I snidely wondered aloud. “I thought we were going directly to Brunswick.”
Kowal snorted and spat out a solid glob of phlegm at the grass to the side of the road. “Cheap bastards charge you for teleporting in and around the city. Walking an hour isn’t going to kill you.”
It wasn’t going to kill me. But it definitely bored me. When I heard that we were going to a city, I expected something like Atlanta or Orlando or, heaven forbid, Tampa. Instead, all I had to look forward to was some medieval replica of a city. There weren’t any monsters to kill to pass the time because patrolling demons in menacing looking gear ensured that nothing exciting got to live for very long. And, watching weak looking demons paw at soil while patrols of demons that could turn me into red mist rode by lost its charm after a few minutes.
Did they even have toilets at this point in time? Hopefully whatever sat inside the walls was more modern.
Though, it seemed that I was the only one that wasn’t enthused at the sight of the city. Kowal, for all the boar’s complaints, hummed a tune as he led the way. Yoshitsune even had an air of excitement about her. She did turn her head towards me with a curious look as though she was able to detect my unimpressed demeanor.
At least the gates of the city offered more interesting sights. Demons that appeared to be travelers like us walked through the open gate. I silently sized up all the potential targets to gauge how effective my own progress had been.
While the latent recovery powers of Hell removed the scarring and battle damage that I’d typically look for in a good, grizzled opponent, there were still tell-tale signs of experience. It came from the eyes and the stance. Just by watching how they stood, I could tell which ones were strong, which were weak, and who had died recently.
My gazes were met with the hardened eyes of the other members of the strong, they did not act on that combat hunger that dwelled within their pupils. Instead, the lines of demons slowly filed inside the walls of Brunswick.
It was soon my turn as well. As I stepped through the threshold of the gate I was forcibly stopped by an invisible force. Then, a message popped up in my eyes.
image [https://i.imgur.com/iaMwYkQ.jpeg]
Notice
Welcome to the City of Brunswick. Visitors must pay 1000 XP to purchase entrance.
“Fucking seriously?” I asked nobody in particular.
“I told you, bandits in their own right,” Kowal grunted as he walked to the other side without any issue. Yoshitsune was close behind him. “Just pay up and let's move on.”
Payment received. Please enjoy your visit! Remember, no violence is permitted.
Invisible forces suddenly loosened their vice-like grip of me and I was shuffled into the main street of Brunswick. Yoshitsune and Kowal had already begun walking away and I followed behind at a distance.
The best way that I could describe Brunswick was a city from Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones. Sure, there was a level of grandness that came from the large stone buildings and winged demons that blotted out the sky above. But, at the same time, there was something important that made this entire place more like a depressing futuristic Disney World that had all the rides uninstalled.
Like the brainchild of some sexless Silicon Valley inventor who codes for money instead of use, my brain was bombarded by notifications. Ads and requests from vendors selling random shit, party requests, and city news and updates filled my eyes faster than I could close them.
In my blindness, I bumped into someone. I could feel them tumble to the ground with a yelp.
“Sorry. I’m not used to all these notifications,” I reflexively excused myself and kept walking.
“Turn off your notifications, asshole,” the aggrieved demon yelled at me.
Since the enraged advice actually worked, and, since using my claws to turn them into chum was illegal here, I decided to just keep walking. But, I could only frown. Any charm that could have lied within this place was quickly lost.
It was too crowded. Demons bumped and brushed against me from the complete lack of space anyone possessed. If I had any possessions on me, I would have worried that every bump was a pickpocket looking to take my things. The sheer mass of demons made the air reek. Clearly, there were no baths in Brunswick; not like I had ever bothered to do the same.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
But, the worst part was the feeling of being watched. Not just from the guards that I could see whose steely eyes observed everyone that passed through the jurisdiction, but there were unseen viewers as well. Whether they were simply guards that remained hidden to discourage crime or if there was a greater power at play to ensure that everyone played nicely, I could not say. But it did make me itch uncomfortably.
“There you are, Ishmael-san,” Yoshitsune said, her voice carrying smoothly through the constant noise that surrounded me. I whipped my head up to see her and Kowal standing in front of a building.
“Quit fucking around and get over here,” Kowal admonished like a man who was escorting his in-laws around the local downtown and was strongly considering divorce.
I stepped out of the foot traffic and into a store. A sharp ringing of a bell strung up to the door would even have alerted the deaf of the presence of new customers. A hairy beast that looked like a Wookie and could only be captured on camera in a blurry form quickly stirred from their resting position on a stool.
“Kowal?” the Sasquatch said in surprise. “What brings you back to Brunswick?”
“I’m getting back into working the storefront, Tanka,” Kowal answered with a grumpy snort. “These two helped solve a problem they partially created, so I decided that I would show them around Brunswick before washing my hands of them forever.”
“Back to shop keeping?” Tanka asked again with a deep sluggish voice. Their head tilted to the side. “I remember, back during our last time out drinking, you said you were retiring from both adventuring and crafting. You jumped up on the table and said that you were having a sale to get rid of the rest of your merchandise.”
“Please don’t remind me,” Kowal begged as he held up his hand to stop Tanka from speaking.
Tanka only nodded and summoned some clay cups from their inventory. Each was filled with a steaming, earthy-colored liquid. Kowal quickly grabbed it and blew on it several times before taking a few sips from the cup.
“Would you like some tea as well?” Tanka inquired. “It will give you a small buff for the next twenty-four hours.”
“How much are you charging?” I asked suspiciously.
“The first cup is always free,” Tanka replied with an expression I could not figure out through the thick, mop-like hair that covered their face.
“It’s been ages since I last had tea,” Yoshitsune remarked in a voice that quivered with nostalgia. She held the cup with reverent hands, bowing towards Tanka before taking a small sip of the contents.
Her smile convinced me that it was probably safe to drink. I took a sip. It was fine; there was only so much excitement that could be obtained by hot leaf water. But, the fact that such a calm moment could be shared was something unique that this place offered.
“So, are you looking to purchase anything?” Tanka inquired.
“I already sucked every last cent from them on the last job,” Kowal said with a chuckle that Tanka reciprocated. “If you want to sell anything to these two, you’ll have to tell them where they can earn some quick money. What’s the talk around town?”
“What are you paying?” Tanka asked in response.
The two looked at each other before breaking into another fit of laughter. Yoshitsune and I had to wait patiently like we were nine and our moms ran into each other at the grocery store.
“It’s really nice to have you back, Kowal,” Tanka said, wiping away some of their mirthful tears with their shag carpet hands. “Anyways, the Church is performing their induction ceremony. So the Inverted Tower will be opening up again. I’m looking forward to the windfall that comes to me when they all get out.”
“Oh, well that’s pretty fortunate timing then,” Kowal remarked. “I can get my shop going just in time to get my own profits soaring.”
“The Church?” I asked with a tilt of my head. “What, some Satanists?”
Kowal and Tanka exchanged a brief glance before Kowal looked back towards me. The lack of a simple answer told me all I really needed to know.
“I was going to have to show you the Church anyways,” Kowal commented. “It was nice seeing you, Tanka.”
“You as well, Kowal,” Tanka said with a wave. “Remember to come back when you aren’t poor.”
Kowal led us back into the crowded streets and the soothing effects of the tea immediately evaporated as my scales were buffeted by careless people that had no real need to fear retribution. Like I was an easily distracted dog, Yoshitsune kept a hand on me so I wouldn’t be swept away again.
I noticed that the flow was all heading in the same direction; towards the volcano. The streets opened into a large town square that could easily fit thousands of the damned. A massive chapel sat towards the back of the square. Stained glass windows shimmered to hint at the colorful depictions within. Atop the roof sat a massive crucifix. Counter to my expectations, it was both facing in the correct direction and unoccupied.
To my left I heard a demon groan out in pain. I immediately whipped my head in the direction of the noise, curious as to how a city that prohibits violence would manage when it actually occurred.
However, I was disappointed and confused, like a kid seeing the bus driver at the mall dressed as Santa. The demon was inflicting harm upon itself. They raked a leather strap studded with spikes over their flesh. Rivers of blood trickled from their body and pooled in the street. Those that surrounded them applauded.
It was then that I began to notice that this was not the sole self-punisher in the crowd. The deeper we got in, the more violent acts I saw. Demon prayed towards the chapel with tears in their eyes.
Of course, I understood why those that believed in God in life would try to reach out to Him in death. Their sins were meant to be forgiven, it was why Jesus died in the first place. But, it was clear that they were not sufficiently repentant in life and they were desperately trying to make up the difference in the afterlife.
“Why are they self-flagellating like that?” I asked Kowal, wondering if the answer was the same as my assertions.
“They are ardent believers in the Church,” Kowal answered dismissively as though I were a child that just asked why the sky is blue. “They believe that by inflicting punishment that goes above and beyond what this realm inflicts upon them, then they will, somehow, reach God with their earnest desire for forgiveness.”
“Why is there a Church in Hell?” I questioned. “Nobody who lived their life properly would be down here, surely they understand that this is all a ruse.”
“It’s best to hear the sermon instead of listening to me try to explain it.” Kowal answered.
Then I saw them, standing atop the stone stage in the middle of the square; the object of the eyes of all that surrounded me. A model that the ancient sculptors would have killed each other over the opportunity to capture their unattainable beauty through their hands and theirs alone. Their genial smile, gentle facial features, and long black hair that flowed like a river of ink draped over their loose, white robes to make them perfectly androgynous.
This was the first true alien being that I encountered in this place. They possessed an appearance more suitable for the kind-faced guardian of the pearly gates. I expected them to speak of the offerings of Heaven and how to meet Jesus.
It was an irreconcilable conflict within my mind. Something like this should not be allowed in the bellows of sinners. A voice within my head compelled me to worship it and ask for forgiveness. However, a much stronger question prevented me from falling to my knees in prayer at this divine figure.
What did you do to get here?