Ceasing his Sonar away, Murai looked at the street next, and much less at the military barracks behind. Before him, he saw all kinds of beings walking throughout a dozen-meter-wide street.
The castle was an important part of the Helltrim City. It was where the military and some important people worked and ruled over this Gate. Built onto the part of the start of this cave, it had Vaults of value above, as well as important positions. Surrounding the castle's perimeter were thick and tall walls made into a half circle. There were entrances in the walls, which Murai walked through a second ago.
The streets weren't that bad-looking either. Mostly paved by stones bricks or large boulders, a variety of buildings went around the streets like walls or large monuments. It reminded him of a lot of normal cities, but much older and larger. This was better than the City of Cinnar. Perhaps only the street with Vermillion Church was similar.
A duck stood like a lost animal, and a ghost followed it behind. Lisa looked around too, knowing that the layout hadn't changed; she saw that from that tower. Most bystanders, guards, and walking denizens glanced at them with some hesitation or curiosity, until they stared at one—or both—of them for many more unnecessary seconds. Then, they fled the scene as if the fire spread in the street, or they glanced at something they shouldn't see.
Even the guards from before returned to their post, leaving Lisa sighting in a silent reminder. She should've expected that Murai was far too savage as an Anatidae. But he kept his veils relatively well, and he had no intentions of scaring anyone away. Now, she started to think something was wrong with these figures. She expected... different greeting, or was this exactly what should've happened?
Since Murai couldn't walk too fast, he took things slowly. He glanced at the hurrying figures of demons and some beasts, scattering and espacing in their sight. He felt their souls. They were kind of weak and scared and shocked. Around Level 30, they fled. It was just a guess. Some could be below it or above it.
They were considered normal denizens of this place because they weren't something special. Like normal people on the Surface—villagers, human hunters, or farmers—Hells had their equivalent to normalcy. It harbored those who were untalented, weak, and young or old. It was part of the living, and part of Hell too. It was how proper power assembled their hierarchy for uncountable years.
Sighting, Murai turned to Lisa. Their journey will take some time for sure.
“A tavern, right? I think I know quite a few of them, so how about some better ones? Different? How good? Rich?” Lisa suggested some ideas.
“You tell me. Never been here myself, unlike an unnamed flying ghost guide.” He joked and figured no immediate dangers were around him. He wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not.
“Alright. Onwards than. I guess I know the right fit for you, but I will need to see the districts of this city first. A business could change in fifty years, shops could change owners, and taverns are like any business.” Lisa tried to remember the right direction that she used to know on top of her head. She ate and lived in such cities all her previous lives.
But through the End, it felt like ages since she last tasted a meal, let alone the taste of flesh, or being in such a city. Remembering every redundant memory wasn't something she preferred before, but her present life form was quite good at it. She had time to collect herself and made it work.
Lisa led him throughout the Helltrim City, showing him streets, and districts. Street had a simple layout with general structures that stretched from the castle's walls like fire. Filled with not that many beings, she was curious if something was going on.
This wasn't supposed to be a modest city, but buzzing in the middle of the day, notable by the glistering sun crystal many kilometers up on the ceiling.
She had some doubts when meeting relative peace, but seeing a city of this kind at least helped her regain her thoughts and plans. She had to make it work. Regardless of something weird going behind the scenes. She hoped to ask Lorry about it. She bet that skull knew something since he gave her a good hint.
It exists. That was it. Should she trust it like Laws? That a portal was hiding in an Ip'ur Mountain all this time and none ever know that?
Without many interests in place, there was only one thing that allowed Hellscape to cherish in general. That was business surrounding the demonic armies, denizens, and flow of trade and lives in Hell Haven in general. This was a very popular Gate because of its portal assembly and size. It made travel almost meaningless, although the maintenance of the portals was kind of expensive and required many mages and essences. Thankfully, this place lacked neither.
Thus, a lot of life forms lived there, including humans, weird races, species, or even unintelligent life. Battleworld was filled with billions of lives, so it came as no surprise that chaotic Hells had various lives. There was plenty of interest in places where Gods existed.
Murai followed Lisa as she floated ahead, speaking to his soul on most occasions, rather than out loud. He did the same, unwilling to quack less, but pretending to be a regular duck was no longer possible. Not with his hoodie on.
Murai took this rare chance of freedom, city, and serenity as a gift. So he looked around like a tourist and felt greater than ever when they entered a major district of this city.
The main streets were dozens of meters wider, thus it was broader thanks to elevated buildings aside and more beings going around. It was still less than Lisa would call normal. Be it large or small like him, there were even dwarfs and humans, but demonic races still bested the minorities. Well, not as if there were some distinct line among those who were a majority. There were none.
Demonic races were hard to predict in the names or clarity. The majority of demons and devils took the mantle of being in the military or gangs. Well, devils had their families to consider, so their status was mostly that of the military or high-level organization. Rarely would they have pride in some gangs. Family and clans mattered to them more. Almost like blood and their hearts.
Being a free soldier in the Hellscape was quite a good status, but rarely was it worth a lot. Connected to the armies by certain bonds and oaths, one shouldn't ignore access to various resources and connections. Most of those seeing power went with such choices, or it was about some pride? Humans loved that for many reasons, equal to an insane amount of demons.
There were aspects of power that triumphed in most Hell Havens, yet some lacking means amongst them ensured the lack of proper Order.
If anyone didn't want to serve, they didn't have to, as long as they could afford it and desired it. There was a freedom of relative choice in this Gate and Levandis's Hell. If someone wanted better chances and desires, joining an organization was a clever thing to do. Military rank and power could rise in equal chances.
It was quite a normal system, ensuring those untalented would find some satisfaction with a position fit for them, while those who wanted to go further had hope or hard work. Those who gave up on the way there either left, joined independent gangs, or became denizens who gave up on their powerful ways. All of those choices had some consequences.
Luck, missions, and general army summonings did the best for the military. Those were much more proper, and most of Levandis's armies consisted of those who desired more strength. It went without question that such a military was powerful, albeit chaotic. The desire of these kinds of fools was harder to control and was quite opposite to human races on the Surface, which had a wider variety of weak people.
Armies were vast in all Hells, and Hellscape was no different. Murai had the itch to ask Lisa about them, cover them in their usual barters of information, and talk that could go for hours.
A couple of dozens of minutes into their walk and talk, Murai had seen quite a few menacing figures dressed in lavish armor or all sorts of folks and races. By now, fewer beings ran away when they saw him or Lisa. Those dressed lavishly glanced at him without fear, but there were more of those who looked at him weirdly before scrambling away as if in a hurry. Those ranged from some lower-ranking soldiers, young devils that looked like humans but with small horns, and even humans.
Most of those who held some powers were wary when they noticed Murai walking beside a ghost. That posed a question if their fear was about Lisa too. Murai wasn't sure. He Read them regardless of any point of interest, wondering where were some taverns. Lisa went around to see this place first before his time to eat arrived. He accepted that without any grudge.
Military in proximity to the castle was quite dense. It took some time until Lisa disappeared from the castle's influence. Then—in the main streets—denizens, figures in the street, and the city began to change.
Ruvians walked or waited around the street for some business, even if they were open gangs outside of the military. Those like them were also a part of the Hells. It was inevitable to seek those unnerved to not follow the rules. Not everything was about Levandis and her armies, who were much higher in terms of power and status than anyone else.
However, some powerful individuals were powerful and unwilling to be chained. They didn't oppose Levandis, of course. It was stupid to do so. Those who opposed her would join other Hells or die trying to feel her anger. Even in the Surface, most armies were the same thing. There were mercenaries, pirates, bandits, adventurers, and so on. Then there were armies set by powers. Those were consistently better than some vagabonds.
Brandishing swords and looking like wolves on two feet, Ruvians were quite notable on the street, as they weren't considered demons, but the beastfolk.
Murai was a little surprised to see them, considering he hadn't seen a lot of this world. But if there was a duck that was considered a menace to society, walking and talking wolfs weren't that weird. The mere idea that they talked in human tongue pissed him off more than anything else, however.
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Unsurspingly, around the edges of the street, hiding under shades or in valleys, he had seen devilish ladies selling their bodies, scamming devils and trying to seize their wealth, and so on. That sight was quite... weird from his small perspective.
Succubusses weren't as rare as he assumed. Most looked softer than humans; some had horns, but all of them had quite notable wings, bare bodies, and thin tails. Uqari was a rare succubus who was more burly and set into some martial power of her choice. She changed to her fitting and desirable form. Their race was common and powerful in that idea.
There was a bustling city hiding further away from the castle. Lisa knew that the military was sensitive. That was why, upon entering the Velvet District, nothing changed here as she expected. People made the city; not the other way around.
After thinking of some timescales, timings, and ideas, she might even meet some people she knew from the past. She didn't recall Illak, however, but for some reason, he did her. Fifty years wasn't a whole lot of time for a succubus or demons with proper Bloodlines. Hell, even some feeble humans lived for a century or more.
It would perhaps end up like with Illak, but she didn't care. She had a lot of enemies, but she knew she had friends, companies, and some slaves too. There might be some information about them hiding in this place, left out by those she ditched in this world all those years ago.
Murai glanced left and right, taking everything into his mind with surprising ease. He sidelined Soul Read as much as possible, but its passivity was starting to get annoying. He was finally at the point where he was in the civilized world, no wilderness, or a half-dead or hunted state.
It was always a struggle out there, so when he heard that the Token— which was still in Lisa's clutched hands—had the power to give him a good time, he took that without any hesitation.
Well, even if he hadn't obtained it, fighting in this place was prohibited. None would bother them; even if Gods from the other Hells came to visit. Duels were the only exception. There were dozens of arenas for that; they seemed popular for a good reason, for Hells, they liked their power and fights.
It didn't take long for Lisa to find the tavern she used to visit. It didn't have the same name as she knew from the past. Instead, there were some new owners, with brothels aside. She was kind of surprised that this luxurious place ended like that, but she didn't have a choice but to look at it from an older perspective. For Murai, this should work just fine.
Flying there with a brazen expression—for a ghost—she left Murai on the street. She figured it was a better idea to come in alone, lest there be some problems with bringing an Anatidea indoors. Rules or Tokens, some common courtesy worked best after some checks.
Murai agreed with her, so he looked at brothels from aside the street, or some shops opposite to this tavern. Velvet District was kind of large, so there were many shops and businesses around. And here, fewer people paid attention to a little duck at the side of the street. Still, those that did fled. And the gloom persisted. There was something weird going on in this city that Lisa found weird and Murai felt it in people. Even in this place—where Lust and Bliss were priced like gold—there was a cloud of fear and tension. It wasn't just about him or Lisa.
The tavern itself was in a row of many other buildings. It was a regular city street close to the main streets divided into larger districts. Velvet District was known as Night District at night. During the day, the business was not one bit lower than at night. Usually.
It was a different kind of business. All kinds of shops had services ranging from killings, assassinations, ensuring any business to be done, or selling things in the black market, open places, hands, and so on. Half was fairly dark in theme, but a surprising amount of magical shops were there too, ranging from herbal shops, potions, military items, or equipment, forging, and runesmithing.
For a tavern to be around, it was perhaps not fitting, but sensible. Information was power, and in such places, there was an easy way to find a job or some information.
Lisa flew out of the door in less than a minute and let Murai inside. They offered beverages, as well as plenty of food. The latter was exactly what Murai wanted from this place, so he walked into the open door in the greatest mood ever. It went against Lisa's expectations. The tavern changed ownership. That was all. The rest remained the same even after fifty years. It was half restaurant, half bar, and a little bit of something else aside.
A steep odor of alcohol pushed to his nostrils and shook his senses before he adjusted in a second. Murai was surprised, but not irritated in the slightest. Quite opposite. The sense of smell was intense from the first step inside, before turning milder and comforting. Murai almost cheered out loud and uttered a loud sharp quack. This place will have to do if Lisa thought it was good.
Lisa's first entry was a bit weird for the folks here. Seeing a ghostly succubus wasn't something... normal? Well, she looked like Fairy too, which many didn't take lightly. What was weirder? Her appearance or a duck wearing a hoodie following her from behind? At least she asked if they still served what she thought, which they answered twice when she shoved them Murai's Token.
She had no fear of using it for the time being. At least for this little start. But later, showing this shouldn't be good. It was like asking for a beating.
Hells were weird places anyway, so seeing ghosts wasn't all that weird. But quite a few curious glances went her way in this place. Especially since her vividness, clarity of soul, and body, all moved in a very nice and unique way. It was no ghost if some mage was curious to sense her. It was no Fairly either; those were more translucent and heavenly, yet hideous in many layers. She was something, yet nothing. It was truly strange for some sitting figures who weren't weaklings.
The majority of guests in the tavern stopped whatever they were doing the moment Murai entered this place. Silence spread for more seconds than necessary, obvious to the silently floating Lisa and thin thuds of duck's feet.
Murai was silent, ignoring the guests and thinking about the food. He wasn't even questioning his hoodie or how he looked. Quiet as it was, it went for a couple of seconds, until it returned to normal when the bartender clasped his hand. Then, guests pretended everything was fine. Most guests noticed a Token in Lisa's hands, which helped them besides seeing an Anatidae and Fairy that some of them feared.
She showed the Token intentionally for another time just in case things went smoother. It worked.
The bartender laughed and spread his four long hands as Murai and Lisa came closer. He was a red-skinned demon with a long head, many eyes, and a little mustache. “Welcome. Welcome. Any deal here is for the deal. Eat, drink, and pay. Nobody will take it badly. That is what business is for. On the name of my owner and Hellhole Tavern. Drink too, to forget the recent happenings. The world is in shambles. So, everyone,” the bartender shouted. “let's give these guests some peace.”
“Nice name this place has.” Murai reckoned to Lisa, who scoffed at him, feeling hesitant over something. This whole thing started to reek of something terrible, and it wasn't because she knew what kind of plane of existence this was.
Challengers were like dogs, like what Illak told and reminded. Lisa floated to the bar, inquiring about the costs and things they offered. When she arrived here first, she rather asked if the business was right for her and Murai, which it was.
Murai followed her from behind, appearing as he felt. He wasn't correct in this place. He stood in place like a little duck would be: Small, tiny, easy to step on. The place was meant for tall and burly demons. Be it stools, tables, or even meals, everything was bigger than for humans.
So what if everything seemed too large in comparison to his body? It wasn't weird. Instead, he thought that nothing was fit for him. Murai didn't mind it. It was always like this so far into this life, and he got used to many worse parts of his previous lives.
Lisa briefly talked with the bartender in the bar, floating between a large orc and a demon with too big of a head and far too little legs. Turning around, she floated down to speak face-to-face with Murai.
“They are a bit stuffed right now because of some problems, but I've got you covered in your meal. That goes along with my plans, along with services, and this district. The flow of information is tight. Money isn't a problem for you, am I right? You want me to work, so let's give our sides more clarity.”
“Money. That isn't my concern. Not really, but I don't want to be ripped off either. Wanna have my essence? They are a better currency than those coins you forced me to take before.”
“Don't worry even a feather away.” Lisa shook her head. “I won't allow some scams to happen. I would rip them first anyway. Heh.” She chuckled.
With that said, they found a remote corner in the tavern to sit at. Murai's steady and small steps piqued the curiosity of quite a few guests of this tavern that wasn't large, but wide and big enough to dine hundreds of demons of various sizes. Because of that, a huge chunk of the interior was for eating, while the rest was for a small bar and lighter tables for drinking. There were also some private spaces to eat and do various trades, but Lisa didn't care for them.
It wasn't your regular tavern with nothing else to offer but a clear purpose to eat and drink. Upon finding the smallest table available—which was still far too large for Murai—he jumped on the chair, ready to order.
Lisa dealt with that problem since no one understood him for obvious reasons. She couldn't order anything for herself, unfortunately, but not as if it was a big issue for her worries.
After noticing some wild stare that sent shivers down his spine, a servant came to their table, appearing nervous. Bones creaking, steps unsteady, and head sweating, he was someone that Murai took without surprise.
“W-what can I do for you, dear customers?” He didn't want to piss a holder of a Challenger Token.
That was a job for someone else.
The one who appeared before their table was a slim and tall-looking goblin. His ears were pointy, his face green like grass, and he was surprisingly human, apart from a few features. His clothes were nice at least.
He had a rather ferocious mouth, filled with long and sharp teeth. His chin was sharper and pointed down, his nose went longer from its base than a human nose, and his hands were thicker and ended in thick spiked nails.
“A page to order would suffice, thanks,” Lisa said.
“O-of course.” Goblin gave her an order list, hidden behind his back and trembling hands.
Unbothered by his demeanor, Lisa flicked the little book for Murai to read. He can still order from it, but her needs and acts were needed for an order.
Murai jumped at the table, observing the pages closely while salivating, tail wriggling, and the goblin swore his eyes glinted white.
Goblin shivered, awkwardly cursing his parents for the amount of interest they amassed before dying that he had to repay. Glancing at the ceiling as he waited, the seconds lingered for hours. Fake hours... but it felt denser than any seconds he had ever felt.
“Hmmm... Nice! I can read this, and it has pictures. This looks nice. This is not good or terrible. That one looks shit. I will take this, this, that, and those.” Murai used his beak, legs, or wings to point to dozens of things at once. Lisa was looking bored aside from him, clearly bothered that she couldn't eat herself. This place was famous for its cooking.
The chair was soft and good thanks to the pillows, but it was far too low for Murai to see from it. Pointing to some sentences and pictures, he got what he wanted, alongside some popular items.
Bizon stew, Redcow steak, Crocohell roast, Yukan ribs, and so on. Each item was deliberately similar to the human world because why change something that worked for millennia? Demons were far from being excellent cooks. They had fewer needs for such extravagance, as well as seasoned, nicely cooked, and pretty-looking dishes.
Thanks to the businesses around the Hellscape, human interactions, and personal touches through many races and ages with the Surface, this place had a lot of things that most Hells would love to have. Mainly, it had stable human connections and population, which was kind of rare. It wasn't in a literal Hell, and the military protected this business under some Overlord who was fond of culinary skills. That, or it was because of Levandis. None knew the truth.
Thanks to its location—which was in the middle of the Somalis continent—Hellhole Tavern had its business thanks to human chefs. Available in larger quantities thanks to the gluttony of beasts and demons, it had specialties and variety around a lot of meals and places in Somalis continent.
Battleworld was vast, so every meal had various options for meats, sauces, sizes, or other additions. Some of the meats were unlike beef or pork of the human world, but all in all, Murai had no care for what was human or alien, as long as it tasted good.
Lise ordered instead of worrying about his taste, needs, or costs. She paid on the spot since that's how it's done. The payment went from golden coins she forced Murai to take from the Golden Room.
There was a lot of currency that this Gate used for business in that Vault. Since a lot of it went through wars and contests, the value of the currency was undeniable, although known for fewer magical specialties. Things made from valuable materials or treasures made sense for a currency.
The Hell Points that Murai achieved implied quite a massive wealth if he wanted it, yet their value was far from these things. His essences and the rest were what mattered to him. Not some coins that didn't mean something good right away.
Hell Points that one got out of these Gates were currency in the Hellscape, after all. One of the loftier ones. Similar to Mana Essences, yet different.
Thankfully, a couple of points were equal to many gold coins. This tavern accepted this stable currency thanks to Somalis Surface which was stable thanks to the stability of the Somalis Empire. That intense, ancient, and powerful empire was in charge of nearly half of the continent's economy. Not outside of it, of course. Hardly any Tier S power influenced the world beyond their home continents.
Lisa thought twice about Murai's needs. It was a good idea she forced him to take some coins since he wouldn't think of them at all. His eyes turned to essences the moment he saw that Vault anyway, yet not everything in his head was useful for his needs.
She didn't argue about it. Especially when he got quite a substantial amount of points that were overkill for his available, although limited essences.
Goblin took Murai's order after accepting coins. Half of them nearly fell from his hands because of his anxiety to see a ghost hover those coins to his hand with what he would describe as glowing wind and water that was hardened like steel. Or wood? He was lost for words and barely wanted to look at this table.
Showing some fear—that was well met—wasn't wrong. Stories of the clothed ducks were known as quite terrifying experiences and something his parent described to him when he was a bad child. Then, stories and tales regarding Fairies did the rest.
He had heard of these nightmares ever since he was young.