After leaving the house, I strolled to the Mammien section.
There were many interesting places to visit but for me, who had already decided on my destination, the only thing left was to .
Taking a deep breath, I entered the establishment I've been eyeing for a few a while now.
"Hmm-hmm."
My feet moved in a normal pace as I went and sat inside one of the many tables located inside the traditionally decorated bookstore while humming.
Not a while later, I grabbed a book that caught my eye and started reading silently on my own.
< Study of the Usage of Official Names in Demons >
Flip. Flip.
Silence enveloped the surrounding and that continued until I was done reading the book.
Thanks to my experience, it did not take long for me to finish reading it as well.
Flip.
Closing the cover, my gaze lingered on the huge 'BANNED' mark over the title.
'As expected, the Black district is full of the obsolete yet important things.'
I placed the book down.
Because of the silence and the time I had in my hands, I couldn't help but get lost in my thoughts while witing patiently on my chair.
What am I waiting for? I'm currently waiting for a man.
And by that, I don't mean I'm out to court someone.
Believe it or not, I'm just looking for a chance to a polite talk.
Asto why I'm doing this, it all goes back to one of the many conversations I had in the brothel, particularly the one that came from a beautiful woman.
She told me a useful story about certain man she recognized.
"I know he used to be a poor lackey from the Mammien's household so imagine my surprise when he became one of my customers."
Her enchanting eyes went moved to my face, making me visibly flinch.
'Why do I feel like she's mad at me?'
I'm quite aware that I didn't do anything wrong to her but her gaze makes me think otherwise.
Thankfully, that tense atmosphere disappeared as soon as she spoke again.
"I'm not that cheap, I'm sure you know of that?"
"How would I not? Just for the record, I lost a whole purse of gold just for a few hours with you."
She grinned seductively at my passive comment. Her eyes glowed in delight, hinting that she seems to enjoy the face of my suffering.
Seeing this, I can only shake my head side to side.
'Women are so cruel. That's why they're tiring to talk with.'
Holding back a deep sigh from escaping my lips, I stopped shaking my head and gave her a serious look.
"Tell me about him."
"This information is a secret. You understand, right? The price you'll pay for it."
"Yes, a promise is a promise."
Nodding, she stopped smiling and continued speaking in a solemn voice.
"He's an arrogant man so it's quite easy to control him. He's also a rat embedded deep in the naming ceremony. I'm sure he'll be of help to you. Usually, he stays in a bar at Mammien section, right in front of a bookstore in the back of the streets-"
"Who is he, Vivian?"
The beautiful prostitute, Vivian, paused.
For a second, I thought I had offended her by talking bluntly.
"What's wrong, Vivian?"
"Nothing. I just really like my name if you say it more often."
I nearly slapped my forehead.
'God, why did I even bother worrying?'
Though I was able to stop myself from slapping my forehead, the sigh that I've been holding back finally escaped from my mouth.
"Haa. Are you still not giving up on the idea of seducing me? It's not going to work."
"Whatever, you stiff man."
Rolling her eyes, Vivian started drinking from the sake. Her movements were minimal but extremely sensual.
Even so, I maintained a blank facade which proved effective in getting us back to the topic at hand.
After drinking a cup or two, Vivian finally said the mystery man's name.
"He calls himself Elliot but his 'official name' is Vin Cho. That's all I could find about him. Sadly, I don't know what spells he uses."
After speaking, Vivian's aura started to let out a murderous vibe.
Sweat started forming on my forehead as I gulped a considerable amount of saliva.
Gulp.
'Ah, damn this.'
Her bad moon continued for a while, and I was stuck in that room with her so I could only wonder why I'm the one suffering when it was someone else who pissed her off.
Moving on, with that conversation, I have a lead for a perfect target for a spy.
BAM!
"Huh?"
A loud sound made me snap back to reality. Searching for the source, my eyes became glued to the door across the store I was in currently at.
In there, a man could be seen struggling.
"Let go of me! Do you not know who I am, huh? I said get off!"
BAM!
The door opened with a loud noise again, followed by the appearance of more men.
From where I sat, I could clearly see them pushing the screaming man out of the establishment they came from.
'My, my, what perfect timing.'
I struggled not to grin but my lips kept twitching awkwardly. In the end, I ended up grinning like a Cheshire cat while thinking to myself.
'That's probably him. No, I'm sure that's him.'
Right now, the man who Vivian described was lying face down on the pavement.
Even with a puke-covered body, I could see him awake as his eyes were open and moving, albeit inconsistently, from one side to the other. As of the moment, he's conscious despite how flushed his skin was due to the alcohol.
His body kept twitching.
I knew that's my cue.
'Asper my plan, I need to act like a Good Samaritan.'
Satisfied with the first step, I stood up and paid for the book I was reading at the counter.
By doing so, I came face to face with an old woman with white long hair and a severely wrinkled face.
She smiled and I mirrored the smile.
"Interesting piece, you have with you."
The old woman said while slightly widening her smile.
"It's a nice book."
Similarly smiling wider, I commented back.
A few seconds of silence occured between us. though I do imagine a lightning cracking in between our figures.
'What's with this old hag?'
My eyebrow twitched as I sense a subtle amount of barely hidden hostility.
Not noticing this, she continued speaking.
"I find it enchanting as well. New books like that come in during the first day of every month, child."
"I see."
I slightly nodded my head at the information said by the granny. She also appreciating my taste in literature.
But she can't fool me.
The moment I saw that she didn't have any teeth, I was reminded of those scamming extras I recently see whenever I watch a movie.
In other words, she gave off a 'I-am-an-extra-connected-to-a-huge-villain' vibe.
Similar to me, she must have already noticed something odd from me.
That's why both of us didn't remove the fake affectionate smile on our faces but didn't call each other out openly as well.
'Okay, I've had enough of this.'
Taking a step back, I bid my goodbye.
"I think I'm done here. If time permits, I will try to visit from time to time."
"Is that so? Then this old woman will welcome you every time. I have a feeling you'll be visiting often."
"Let's hope so."
Nodding one last time in farewell, I clutched the very thick book to my chest as I hurriedly left the store.
'Shit.'
The smile I kept up disappeared in an instant.
"Damn granny and her old instincts."
I had a feeling she would bring trouble, immediately at that, especially when I looked back to check on her but only to find no one behind the counter.
'Double shit! I've been caught.'
Noticing that I was running out of time, I quickly approached the collapsing man on the street.
'Originally, I was going to have a peaceful talk with you first but that will have to wait.'
Smiling, I approached him while trying to hide my anxiety away.
Instead of a majestic Samaritan, I pretended to be a dumb-looking brat in front of him.
"Sir Elliot, do you need any help?"
The drunkard, Elliot, looked up with a curious and guarded expression on his face.
"You know me? How?"
"the question is how could I not, Sir? You're very famous among the little groups. You're also one of the richest."
Keeping the smile, I secretly scanned my surroundings.
There was still no one around.
'Hurry. We need to hurry.'
I looked down on Idiot, I mean, Elliot who's expression changed rapidly from contemplative to a happy-go-lucky drunkard.
"Hmm? Oh, that? Hahaha! I am rich, am I? Bwahaha!"
"Yes, yes. We envy you so much."
Crouching down, I guided him up as quickly as I could. As expected from Vivian's knowledge, he truly is an arrogant idiot. After a little praise, he stupidly allowed me to help him while not noticing that we were heading inside a dark alley.
Once we arrived in the slightly secluded potion, I dropped my act.
"I'm Elliot! The greatest!"
"Yes, Elliot, you're the greatest idiot."
"What?"
Before he could figure out what was happening, I had already let go of him and raised the book with both my arms.
"Ugh! What the fuck?!"
His body slumped down on the rough floor for the second time in the past five minutes.
Surprised, Elliot looked up in irritation after seeing a shadow cast over his face.
Because he was drunk, he probably can't see me holding a gigantic book over his head.
His unfocused eyes squinted as he asked in a slurry voice.
"What are you doing?"
"You'll be coming with me, Sir."
With the gentle smile on my face remaining perfectly still, I swung my arms down to his head in high speed, bringing the heavy book down with me in a similar velocity.
BAM!
"Ugh!"
The weight of the book, his drunken state, and the acceleration of the fall caused him to lose consciousness on the spot.
Seeing his weak body on the ground, adrenaline rushed through my body and a satisfied smile crept into my lips.
'Like the granny said, it is indeed a nice book. Not only does it have an interesting content but it also works as an effective weapon.'
Drip. Drip.
"Ah, so good."
While staring at his bleeding head, I couldn't stop the words of pleasure that left my mouth as my eyes curved like crescent moons.
'More. I need more.'
In the back of my mind, I felt like something was pushing me to make him bleed more.
There was a voice that keeps on telling me to continue hitting his head.
But I stopped myself and forced the instinct to calm down.
'Why would I kill him? That would be a waste, wouldn't it? I can't get rid of him when I have so much use for this fool.'
My eyes calculatingly roamed on the limbs of his body. I set the book down and stretched my hands before speaking.
"Now then, let's reduce your chance of escaping. Sorry in advance for this."
I reached for his arms and...
CRACK!
...broke them like snapping a wing of a bird.
Next was his other arm, then both of his legs.
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
For a few minutes, only cracking noises could be heard in the silent alley wrapped in darkness.
After that, I stretched my arms again with a smile.
"There. That's better. Huuu."
Tired, I exhaled and inhaled before wiping the sweat on my forehead. Then while still smiling, I gazed at his disfigured, yet still alive body.
"Aren't I merciful? I knocked you out before dislocating your joints so you won't feel the pain. Hahaha!"
"..."
Elliot didn't answer.
He was passed out so he couldn't even if he wanted to.
Looking closely, I saw that bruises were starting to form and it didn't look anywhere human. In fact, it looks more like what a toy doll would look like if you give it to a baby.
Shrugging, I turned a blind eye to this.
'As long as he's alive it doesn't matter what he looks like.'
After that, I grabbed his collar and dragged him further into the alley with a proud smile on my face.
It was time to proceed to the next step of my plan.
In this step, there isn't much to do but dragging. I already memorized the way to our next destination, which by the way is just nearest forest to where we were at the moment.
It should have been easy but Elliot was a grown man so it took a while for my fourteen years old body to drag him from one place to another.
Not to mention, I was getting an uneasy feeling.
'Where are they? They disappeared.'
Even while I was moving, I continued to look around for any dogs tracing for my scent.
To my disappointment, there were no one.
Despite the granny disappearing, I felt no one persistently pursuing me. They were present at first, and I could be wrong, but maybe they stopped when I entered the forest.
This means that this is really a dangerous situation.
'But it feels so good.'
I nearly closed my eyes as adrenaline travelled through my body, caused by the shift in the air.
GRRRRRRR!
My senses tingled and goosebumps covered my skin. The hair in my neck stood up, warning me that danger was lurking around.
Opening my eyes wide, I lifted ahead and my mouth hung open.
Gasp.
"My god."
As gasp left my lips as I looked closely at the path in front of me. Seconds ago there was nothing there. But now, ever so silently, a creature now stared back at me.
GRRRR!
It had no decent form.
If I were to describe it, the demon in front of me looks just like a clump of mud ball that someone slapped together in a rush.
GRRR!
Step.
The demon took a step towards me.
"Ugh."
Groaning, I was tempted to cover covered my nose as a repulsive smell emerged from its wrinkled body.
GRRR!
Countless bloodshot eyes emerged from its skin. Even though I just made eye contact to it, the bloody red iris and black pupils made me feel like I was suffocating.
"Hahaha."
'Is this what a real demon looks like in this world? My imagination is amazing. More importantly, have I gone completely insane?'
With one hand, I touched my lips and feelt the painful curve that refused to back down in front of the monster that was waiting to devour me whole. And with the same hand, I moved it from my face and into the air as an invitation for a handshake.
"Hello."
Smiling calmly, I spoke with a voice devoid of fear.
"Nice to meet you."
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
The monster, who had no hands whatsoever, took my gesture as a mock. Instantly, numerous mouths filled with razor sharp teeth emerged from its skin. All of them moved but spoke different words at the same time.
"Die!"
"How dare you!"
"Come here!"
"I'm going to kill you!"
It was probably intimidating me.
Had that not been the case, it would have attacked me already.
With that line of thought, no changes appeared in my expression.
If I have to say, I felt even more excited than ever.
Step.
I took a step forward and opened my mouth to speak but before I could actually say anything, the leaves near me started to move.
RUSTLE!
RUSTLE!
My head snapped to the side and away from the demon.
'What the hell?'
Slowly, my eyes started to widen.
"Dark."
"I knew it!"
I was frozen in shock as two shadowy figures emerged in front of me, both moving in lightning speed towards the front of my body.
SHH!
SHH!
A slight wave of breeze passed by, followed by the comforting scent of home.
Turning my head to the side, I saw two familiar backs covering me from the sight of the hideous monster.
The shadows of their body loomed over my face.
After a few second, I finally snapped out of my trance.
"What the hell are you two doing here?"
I asked with a voice I almost didn't recognize.
For once, my voice sounded unfamiliar. It was full of shock yet had a hint of something else. I couldn't tell. It was the first time I heard my voice that way. It was strange as hell.
That strangeness, however, felt quite pleasant to the ears. It was the different kind of pleasure I felt from the adrenaline rush and I didn't dislike it.
Smiling, I bit my lower lip and spoke, pretending that my heart didn't tingle with heat.
"Guys, were you-"
But all that warmness instantly disappeared after they turned their heads to look at me.
GULP.
When I saw their face...
Let's just say that they look nothing short of criminals planning a quick murder.